Ethel B Redding

Ethel B. Redding, 86, of Wood River, NE died on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 7, 2025 at Apfel Funeral Home with Derek Apfel, CFC officiating. Burial of ashes will follow in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, November 6th at Apfel Funeral Home.

Ethel was born on April 23, 1939 in North Loup, NE to Joshua and Elsie (Carruth) Clement. She grew up in Grand Island and received her education from Grand Island Public Schools. She was united in marriage to Eugene Redding on September 25, 1954 in St. Paul, NE. The couple had made Grand Island, Wood River, and Cotesfield home before landing back in Wood River, during this time she worked taking care of people in the hospital, nursing homes, Bethphage and as an X Ray Tech at St. Francis.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wood River, a member of the Eagles in Grand Island, the American Poets Society and received an award for her poems. She enjoyed Yahtzee, cards, puzzles, listening to music, watching Husker football, playing backgammon with her son David, crocheting blankets for others, her cat named Yahtzee, holidays and gatherings, fishing, camping and traveling, writing poetry and stories, dancing. She loved all her family and friends, especially all of her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: Gerald (Joan) Redding of Alda, Steven Redding of Wood River, Sherry (Bradley) Desel of Wood River, and Jeanine (Dan) Deuel of Norfolk; 16 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and many loved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, David Allen Redding; grandsons, Cody George Redding and Cory Eugene Redding; sisters: Gladys Plugge, Wanita Weddle, Wreatha Cooper, and infant sister Clara Clement; brothers-in-law: Everet, Art, John, Kenny, Gene; sisters-in-law: Violet, Dorothy, Ethel, Alice, Thelma, Betty, and Barb.