Vernon H. Wood, Jr., 74

Vernon H. Wood, Jr., aka “Woody,” was born on January 21,1948 in Elkhart KS, to Vernon Wood and Evelyn (Hughes) Wood. He was the oldest of three siblings: Francis (Joe) Brockman, Jere and Mary (Rich) Lehn.

As a child the family moved to Boise City, OK and the Taylor, NE area before settling in the Anselmo/Merna area around the age of six, until his senior year of high school. Upon his last three months of his senior year of high school, the family moved to Columbus, NE where he and his dad were both employed by Curry Farms. Although he graduated from Columbus in 1966, he was always considered an alum of Anselmo/Merna High School. It was at Columbus where he met the love of his life Dorene Loseke.

He enlisted into the army that same year and received his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He then received his office machines repair training at Ft. Lee, VA before being deployed to Vietnam. While home on leave in 1967 he married Dorene on October 14th. He was honorably discharged in 1969 just in time to help Curry’s harvest in the Atkinson, NE area. That year, Dorene gave birth to Natalie (John) Ady. In 1971 he went to work for Ernie VanHorn doing autobody work until he began farming for Verny Krieger and moved to Bassett, NE in 1972. He and Dorene had Charles (Chuck), of Washburn, ND in 1974. He worked for K&K (Kirwan and Krieger) Farms until he started farming on his own in 1976. Around this same time, he and Joe Anderson bought a 4010 John Deere tractor together, and with a bit of help from a buddy named Jack Karre, they turned it into a formidable Super Stock pulling tractor. In 1977 he bought Joe out, and he and Dorene were then the sole owners of the Jolly Green Giant pulling team until he hung it up in 1985. His final year he won the 5,500 lb. class at the NE state fair, a nationally sanctioned event. He and his buddies had a “big” time in Lincoln that night.

During his farming years he spent a lot of his “spare” time helping out George Murdock in his welding shop, in exchange for using the shop for his own use. He also did a lot of running with and for Dave Swanson, fetching and delivering engines. They would share some pretty interesting stories of their exploits all across the country. Dave was also gracious enough to let Woody use the shop at Sandhills and then Northern Plains to do all of his engine repairs for the farm. In 1991 he retired from farming and went to work full-time at Northern Plains Supply Inc. as the shop foreman and then the parts manager until his full retirement in 2016. Woody was fairly well known for his vast knowledge of diesel power units.

Throughout Woody’s life he was a very avid hunter, and he was most passionate about pheasant hunting. Chrysso Dianna, Jessi Ann and at the time of his death, Jazzy Rose, were the three Labradors that had the privilege of being his hunting partners. Woody was an active member and elder at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ainsworth, NE for over forty years, a staunch patriot and lifetime member of the Bassett American Legion Club and the VFW and a member of the Bassett zoning committee. He was a founding member and secretary of the local Pheasants Forever Chapter for 20 years. He was always very passionate about the youth mentor hunt, and scheduled and cooked for it. The state biologist said their hunt was one of the best in the state. He was also a very active member of the Ainsworth Rod and Gun Club for 20 years. Aside from hunting, Woody loved to cook; grilling was never out of season for him. He loved reminiscing on the back deck, or anywhere with Dorene or his hunting, Legion or work buddies. Most of all, he couldn’t have been prouder of his three grandchildren: Dani Wood, 22 of Woodward, OK; Becca Ady, 19 of North Platte, NE; and Oscar Wood, 14 of Washburn, ND.

Survivors include wife, Dorene of Bassett; daughter, Natalie (John) Ady of North Platte, NE; son, Chuck (Amy) Wood of Washburn, ND; granddaughters, Dani Wood of Woodward, OK and Becca Ady of North Platte, NE grandson, Oscar Wood of Washburn, ND; his faithful dog Jaz and many, many hunting and drinking buddies.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Wood, Sr. and Evelyn Wood; brother, Jere; and sister, Mary. He will be sorely missed.