Cora Ann Wood

Cora Ann Wood, 90, died peacefully on June 4, 2023, at Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln, Neb. Cora (Schwenk) Wood was born Oct. 19, 1932, in Palisade, Neb. to Elmer and Helen (Kee) Schwenk. Ann as she is known by her friends graduated from Trenton, Neb., High School in 1950. For the next five years, her occupations included working as a nurse at the Stafford, Neb., hospital, and working as an adding machine operator at the State Bank of Trenton. She met the love of her life, Garland "Woody" Wood during this time period and they were married in Des Moines, Iowa on October 14, 1955. You could say the couple started their marriage on a fast note. Woody drove his car fast down a Des Moines street after the wedding, reflected Ann. For the next 43 years, she and Woody would welcome two sons, and his job as a maintenance man for Phillips 66, and the Standard Oil Company would see the couple move to several cities in Iowa, including Des Moines, and Sergeant Bluff and several cities in Minnesota, including Worthington, Mankato and Forest Lake. She was not the only loving mother to her sons, her spare time included working as a bookkeeper at the State Capital Bank in Des Moines, Iowa, an adding machine operator at Capital City Bank in Sioux City, a Cub Scouts den mother, and an employee at Campbells Soup in Worthington. She reflected on how she would cut up the chickens with a big knife. "Awww, we had to bone so many chickens in so many minutes and the chickens kept coming around on those hangers," she pointed out. Ann and Woody moved to Grand Island, Neb., in 1998 where she enjoyed cooking, gardening, shopping and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and hiking the many trails around the Grand Island area with Woody. In the last few years, she and Woody lived at the Good Samaritan Society, Grand Island, Neb., Village. While there, they enjoyed eating ice cream and playing Bingo. In the last three years after Woody was called to heaven, Ann enjoyed living in her own assisted living apartment and making an impact on the residents and nursing staff. As one nurse said, "Ann is still the most beautiful ray of sunshine every morning." One thing that brought sunshine to Ann was visits by Rusty, her son's dog, who also loved "coming to see grandma." Cora was preceded in death by her husband, Woody; parents, Elmer and Helen Schwenk; brothers: Edgar Schwenk, Gene Schwenk, Paul Schwenk, Jr. Schwenk, and Bob Schwenk. She is survived by her two children, Jerold Wood (Michele) of Midland, Texas, and Clinton Wood of Tomah, Wis., her grandchildren, Chad Wood of Sinton, Texas, Amber Priddy (Kenneth) of Lake City, Texas, Hailley Wood of Brainerd, Minn., four great-grandchildren, Brandon Wood (Dakota) of Midland, Texas., Chad Jr., and Emma Wood of McAllen, Texas, Dalton, Sydney, Cassie, and Parker Priddy of Lake City, three great-great-grandchildren and several nieces, and nephews, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten. Friends are invited to say a final goodbye to Ann at All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island, Neb., on Wednesday, June 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at All Faiths followed by her burial at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb.

Cora Ann Wood

October 19, 1932 - June 4, 2023

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Cora Ann Wood

October 19, 1932 - June 4, 2023

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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