Marlene A. Mead

WOOD RIVER - Marlene Ann Mead, 73, of Wood River died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River, with the Rev. Bob Carlson officiating. Burial will be in the Wood River Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mrs. Mead was born Jan. 22 1939, at Cairo to Ralph and Evelyn C. (Hartwig) Dibbern. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Mead, April 8, 2012. Survivors of the immediate family include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Craig L. Mead of Wood River, Douglas and Maria Mead of Ravenna; one daughter, Christine A. Johnson of Belgrade; and a sister and brother-in-law, LaJean and Harlan Kroger of Dannebrog. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Jason Mead, Elizabeth Mead, Nicole Hacker, Andy Mead, Shannon and Chris Smith, Dalynn and Justin Patch, Kodi and Cole Wesston, Kelcey and Tim Shoemaker, Chaz and Sammy Johnson and JaCee Johnson; and a special niece and nephew, Vicki and Mike Woodrich of St. Libory; as well as 16 great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren. Marlene grew up in Wood River area graduating from Wood River High School with the class of 1957. She was united in marriage to Donald D. Mead on Nov. 24, 1957, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Grand Island. The couple made their home in Wood River where she was a homemaker. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, past member of the Extension Club and circle and the Platt Duetsche Society in Grand Island. Her hobbies included camping and doing crafts. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and a son-in-law, Dan Johnson. Memorials are suggested to the Wood River Fire and Rescue Department or to the donor's choice. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.