John Todd Woodbury

With exquisite sorrow and bittersweet love, the Woodbury family calls together all cherished friends and beloved family to grieve the loss John Todd Woodbury, aged 66, of Sycamore, IL. His singular essence left this world on July 27, 2025 while in peaceful rest at his home and surrounded by his loved ones, as was his wish.

John Todd was the only child born to John Howard I and Nola Woodbury in San Diego, CA on January 19, 1959. In youth, he called many places home, including California, Japan, Mississippi and Illinois. He was known to be a strong-willed child, and for unknown reasons was so defiant in grade-school art class that his father, a Navy veteran, was called away from work to meet with John’s school principal. When asked to explain his actions to his father, young John stoutly declared, “I ain’t gonna draw no dang rabbit.” For the remainder of his school year, John spent every single recess in the principal’s office completing additional math homework despite being offered the alternative of completing even a single rabbit drawing. John has stated that he believes this is where he first developed a lifelong appreciation for mathematics.

John was highly educated and earned his first degree in Psychology from Bradley University in 1981. He often recounted that this discipline reflected his deep passion for “graduating on time.” More importantly, while at Bradley, John joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity, where he would meet many lifelong and treasured friends. He often reflected on the happy days he spent with his fraternity brothers, the challenges they overcame and the victories they celebrated together.

Following graduation, and a year of under-utilizing his Psychology degree, John made the sensible choice to pursue a degree in Accounting at Northern Illinois University. A little known fact, at that time John was hexed by a scorned love interest and practitioner of Wicca. By his telling, this curse would lead him to a fateful encounter with Wendy Jane Woodbury (née Toyser), with whom he would spend the remainder of his life, bedeviled by love and companionship from his one true soul-mate. They married on the 21st of June, 1986 after John achieved his Accounting degree in 1985. He would obtain a final diploma, a Master of Science in Taxation from DePaul University in 1990.

Together, and through much headache, John and Wendy would raise three sons in a small suburb, Oswego, IL. His sons John Howard II, Matthew Kevin and Mark Kyle Woodbury would pose the greatest challenges John faced in his life. Fortunately, these boys’ rebelliousness, angst and foolishness would prove unequal to the willpower and parenting wisdom of John and Wendy. Against impossible odds, they would raise their sons into well-rounded, educated and productive young men of whom he is mostly proud, most of the time.

In addition to his family life, John enjoyed great passion for golf and fishing. He particularly enjoyed catching Walleye on Lake Erie with friends. His golf buddies will know that he made many valiant attempts to combine these two passions across the many water hazards of Illinois’ golf courses. One of John’s most rewarding pursuits was mentoring young people in many settings including at home, in sports or clubs and even in the workplace. He took great pride in the many young Accountants he mentored and supported in their early careers.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Todd and Nola. He is survived by his Aunt Laura Todd, his wife Wendy, his sons John, Matthew and Mark, as well as his growing throng of grandchildren Shepard, Olivia, Sabrina and Nola Woodbury. In his final days, he was blessed and celebrated by a parade of friends, colleagues, family and no-nonsense nurses; all of whom were of great comfort to him. The sun will never shine so brightly as when he cast his shadow upon the earth, and there will never be another soul quite like his. Let it be known to all that, on his dying day, John Todd Woodbury still hadn’t drawn no dang rabbit.

A memorial service to celebrate John’s life and achievements will be on Friday, August 1, 2025, 3:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, located at 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108. A visitation will follow from 4:00-7:00 p.m. All looking to pay respects are welcome to attend either or both. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.