Verna Wood
Verna Jean (Neben) Wood was born Nov. 19, 1935 to Martha (Knispel) and Ernest H. Neben on the farm west of Eddyville in Dawson County, Neb.
She was baptized as an infant into the Lutheran Church at Buffalo and later confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Sumner.
The early years of Verna’s education were spent at rural schools including the Jewell school west of Sumner where the family moved when she was in the second grade. When she started the fourth grade the family moved to a farm northeast of Overton. She finished her education there, graduating with the Class of 1953.
Verna attended Kearney State Teachers College the summer of 1953, earning her Teaching Certificate. She then went on to teach the next two years at Mount Olive (Burr Oak) school north of Sumner.
While teaching there she met Dean (Bud) Wood. They married Sept. 25, 1955, in Lexington. To this union, one daughter, Mala Kim was born.
They ranched in the Cumro community until their retirement in 1991. During this time Verna was very active in her church playing first the piano and later the organ as well as being involved in the Lutheran Ladies Aid Society. Also during this time, she provided the accompaniment for the students at the Cumro and Burr Oak rural schools.
Verna enjoyed being a very active member in the American Legion Auxiliary Post # 153 of Ansley where she held several offices.
In the fall of 1987 Verna went back to college, graduating with BS degree in Business Administration in 1992. That same year (1987) Verna became a tax preparer with H & R Block in Kearney. That job turned into a 28-year career that she enjoyed immensely.
In the winter of 1991 Bud and Verna sold a portion of their ranch and relocated to Kearney. It was at the time that she became an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church participating in LWML and, from 2010 until just before her death, leading a weekly women’s Bible study group.
Verna passed peacefully from this life on June 10, 2022 after a short illness.
Survivors include her daughter Kim (Mike) Mooney of Broken Bow; granddaughters Lisa (Allen) Vraspir of Neligh, Marcy (Eric) Yates of Broken Bow and Nicole Mooney of Broken Bow; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Stan, Wes and Dick Neben; sisters Karen Good, Joan Longmore, Ellen Priel and Gail Neben.
Verna was preceded in death by her husband Bud; parents Martha and Ernie; in-laws Ruth and Leo Wood; sister Janette; and nephew Mark.
Services will be Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m. at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney with lunch to follow at the church. Burial will be in the Sumner Cemetery at 1:15 p.m.
Visitation will at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow Thursday, June 16, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. with the family present 5-7 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements.
An online guest book may be signed at www. govierbrothers.com.