Neil Wood

Broken Bow resident, father and grandfather & great grandfather Neil LaVern Wood, 89, Broken Bow, died February 5, 2012 at the Heritage Hall Home in the Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Broken Bow and the Masonic Lodge in Broken Bow. His greatest joys in life were his family, playing golf, and ranching. Neil L. Wood was born August 20, 1922 to Walter and Edna (Downey) Wood at Kearney, Nebraska. He grew up in on his father’s ranch on the South Loup River, in Custer County. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1941. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Kearney State Teachers College. After the beginning of World War II, Neil enlisted in the U.S. Army in early 1942. He married Betty L. Greutman on February 6, 1943, in Laramie, Wyoming, where he was serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. Neil later transferred to Wheeler Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he served until early 1946. At the conclusion of World War II, Neil and his wife, Betty, made their home on the Wood Ranch, south of Broken Bow, where they lived for 32 years. They raised Hereford cattle and Quarter horses. They moved to Broken Bow in 1978, due to his wife’s health problems. Betty Wood passed away on April 16, 2002. Neil married Shirley Westerlin in August 2004. Survivors include his second wife, Shirley, one daughter, Cheryl Ryan, and her husband, Mick, Minden, NE; one son, Walt, Omaha NE; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Betty, and one sister, Maxine Shelly of Denver, CO. Funeral services are at 10:30 AM on Februry 8th, at the Broken Bow First Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend John Gallentine officiating. Burial will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Broken Bow First Presbyterian Church and the Heritage Hall. Funeral services will be held Wednesday February 8, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church in Broken Bow with Rev. John Gallentine officiaitng. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Govier Bros. Mortuary with family greeting friends from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery.