Brian Arthur Wood

Brian’s early years took him through the small towns of New Zealand—Matamata, Rotorua, and eventually Tauranga—where he grew up under the care of his mum and Donald Wood. He remembered those days vividly: working on a cattle milking farm, riding his push bike over to Ngongotahā, and settling into the new home they purchased just before he turned ten. Even in childhood, Brian carried a sense of adventure, a willingness to work hard, and the steady independence that would define his life.

At just 15 and a half, Brian made a choice that shaped his future: he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy on January 21st, 1962. After nine months of demanding basic training, he volunteered to become a radio operator—a role that took him far from home and deep into the realities of global conflict. He served aboard ships like the Royalist, which famously broke down in the Indian Ocean. Brian would later recall the surreal days spent repairing the ship at sea. Brain and the crew spent time feeding the sharks that were circling in the water, a memory both frightening and strangely humorous in hindsight. His service also brought him to the tense waters near Korea, supporting American forces during a turbulent time. Perhaps his most intense experiences came aboard the Santon, a British minesweeper on loan to the New Zealand Navy. Volunteering for duty during the Indonesian conflict of the 1960s, Brian faced the daily dangers of war—realities far removed from anything depicted in movies. From sweeping channels to intercepting unauthorized boats, to later serving as backup in the Suez Canal, Brian met every mission with bravery and resolve. And though he later called himself “stupid to volunteer,” he carried those years with pride and even gratitude for they took him all the way to England before returning home in 1966. After time recuperating at the Navy’s radio station in Waiouru, Brian went on to serve aboard the Endeavour and finally the Taranaki. He completed his service with honour on December 8th, 1969, leaving as a Leading Radio Operator.

Life after the Navy led Brian to Tokoroa, where he worked at the New Zealand Forest Products paper mill, and then on to a working holiday in Brisbane, Australia—one that changed everything. There, in 1971, he met a young woman from Canada who had also come on a working adventure. Two weeks after her arrival, fate placed Margaret in his path. They married in 1973 and immigrated to Canada the following year, beginning a life built on partnership, devotion, and shared dreams.

In Canada, Brian found his calling in mechanics. Guided by an English boss who understood his accent and recognized his talent. Brian became a skilled truck mechanic, later expanding into electronics, and computers. He loved to work with his hands, to solve problems, and to understand how things fit together. In April 11, 1982, he and Margaret welcomed their daughter, Brianne Heather, who became the joy of their lives.

Brian faced significant health challenges in later years and in 2002, he and Margaret moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia, seeking gentler weather. There, they built the final peaceful chapter of their life together.

Brian leaves behind not only memories of adventure and service, but a legacy of perseverance, love, and steadfast character. He was a husband, a father, a sailor, a mechanic, and a man who lived a life defined not by circumstance, but by courage and commitment.

At the family's request no service will be held, Cremation entrusted to Memories Funeral Home.