Rhonda Denman
Rhonda Denman, of Wood River, died peacefully, lovingly surrounded by her family on March 4, 2025, at the age of 66.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 8, at Babels Barn in Wood River with Derek Apfel officiating. Burial was in the Wood River Cemetery.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome. com.
Rhonda Denman was born on April 29, 1958, to Pearl Mead and Norman Mead, of Wood River. She attended and graduated from Wood River Rural High School in 1977. In 1977, she married Dennis Stelk with whom she welcomed her first daughter, Bobbi Jo, in 1977 and her second daughter, Jennifer, later in 1980. In 1983, she met the love of her life Kim Denman and got married on September 7, 1984. They later welcomed their daughter Brooke. Rhonda loved her daughters wholeheartedly and referred to them as “God’s three gifts” to her.
Throughout her life, Rhonda served her community in many different ways. For many years, she was the PTO president and served on the Wood River cemetery board. Rhonda also helped local communities during COVID-19 when she sewed and donated hundreds of washable masks to schools, nursing homes, and doctors’ offices to help keep people safe.
She had many meaningful jobs in her life, including working at Mr. B’s for several years and working as a secretary at Mead Industries, a family business started by her father. Most recently, she has served as a paraprofessional at Wood River Rural Elementary School as Mrs. D. During this time, she had touched just as many little hearts just as they had touched hers.
In her free time, Rhonda enjoyed sewing, crafting, and planting flowers. She loved hanging out with her friends and loved ones and would never turn down a good margarita.
Her love of sunflowers was fitting as she filled every room she entered with the warmest light. Her spunky and sassy attitude was enjoyed and loved by everyone around her. Rhonda cherished every moment she was able to spend with her grandchildren and her greatgrandchild. Whenever someone she loved told her they loved her, she always responded with “I love you more” and always meant it.
To be known by Rhonda was to be loved, and to be loved by Rhonda was a gift beyond measure.
Rhonda is survived by her mother, Pearl (Reed) Mead, of Wood River; her brothers, Gary Mead, of Loup City, and Greg and Holly Mead, of Kearney; her daughters, Bobbi (Stelk) and Darren Parlin, of Wood River, Jennifer (Stelk) and Chad Fischer, of Grand Island, and Brooke (Denman) and Brandon Thompson, of Wood River; grandchildren, Michael Fischer, of Lincoln, Haley (Parlin) and Jimmy Mazour, of Lawrence, Abigail Parlin, of Kearney, Faith Parlin, of Fairmont, Landon and Lucas Fischer, of Grand Island, and Kenna, Sawyer, Gemma and Kimber Thompson, all of Wood River; and one great-grandchild, Sullivan Mazour, of Lawrence. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded into death by her father, Norman Mead, and her husband, Kim Denman.