Blanche Mary (Vales) Wood was born on December 19, 1926, in Swanton, NE to Frank and Mary (Karl) Vales. She died on January 7, 2019, at Garden Square Assisted Living in Crete, NE.

She attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Wilber High School in 1944. She took normal training in high school and taught 3 years at District 66 country school southeast of Wilber. Blanche also worked for a tax preparer.

She married Kent Wood on May 25, 1948, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilber. They lived in rural DeWitt until October 1960, when they bought the plumbing and heating store in Clatonia, NE. Blanche helped Kent in their business doing the bookkeeping and working in the store.

Blanche was active in the Clatonia Extension Club, Clatonia Commercial Club and was on the Village of Clatonia board. She was also active in the St. Wenceslaus Altar Society and in the area church deanery.

Kent and Blanche enjoyed square dancing and playing pitch. Blanche was an avid gardener and liked canning the produce. She also enjoyed flowers and had numerous flower gardens around her home. Blanche loved sewing for herself and her family. She sewed and hand quilted a quilt for each of her seven grandchildren. She also enjoyed crocheting and crafts. Blanche was a great cook and baker, making many delicious kolaches for family and passing this tradition on to her family. She once won a Pillsbury baking award.

Blanche is survived by her daughter, Corinne Koch of Lincoln; sons David Wood of Crete, Gerald (Judy) Wood and Paul (Vonnie) Wood, all of Lincoln. Grandchildren: Brent (Courtney) Koch of Dakota Dunes, SD; Alicia (Matt) Zajicek of Hickman, NE; Kelly (Dan) Honz of Omaha, NE; Kimberly Wood of Alexandria, VA; Brian Wood of Fort Collins, CO; Scott (Kelsey) Wood of San Diego, CA; and Bethany Wood of Lincoln. Six great-grandchildren: Aiden and Brynn Zajicek, Kendall and Carter Koch and Evan and Lucy Honz. Sisters-in-law MaryLou (Glen) Baum, Tecumseh, NE and Leatrice Wood of Devine, TX. Numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Kent Wood (1991); brothers Frank Jr., Ludvik and Stanley; sister Rose Peterson Boatman; son-in-law Rodney Koch; sisters-in-law Emma Vales, Evelyn Vales, and Etra Wood; brothers-in-law Charles Wood and William Wood.

Funeral services are at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 501 North Wilson Street, Wilber, NE. Burial is at 1:15 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in DeWitt, NE. Visitation is 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Kuncl Funeral Home, 607 West 3rd Street, Wilber, NE. Family will be present from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary Service following visitation. Memorials to one of the following: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, American Cancer Society or Garden Square.