George Faye Mead

On the evening of July 19, 2024, George F. Mead of Wood River, NE, took the hand of God at the age of 72 after a courageous battle with Parkinson's plus. George was born in Grand Island, NE to Ronald E. Mead and Gladys F. Roberts on January 31, 1952. On October 25, 1975, he married Susan Moritz and together they raised two boys, George P. Mead and David L. Mead.

George’s creativity and humor were often evident to customers of both the RE Mead shop of WR, where he worked for over 20 years, and Menards in GI, where he worked for 15 years. George was often the go-to person for anyone without an obvious solution to a problem. His unique perspective and broad life experiences always provided surprising and long-lasting answers. Especially for those he volunteered his own time to help, including public parks and facilities in WR, often without prompting. Music was his passion, it was rare when George was not singing, humming, or whistling some tune. His greatest pleasure was singing in the church choir at the Methodist church in WR or volunteering his time to play his trumpet for the GI municipal band or out at Stuhr Museum. George’s humor and playfulness was ever-present, just ask any of George’s many friends or his large family. They will tell you tales of his ability to always find a joke, gag, prank, or one-liner just right for every moment; just make sure you have several hours to spare to hear them! He also had deep artistic inspirations, he could use any metal, wood, and whatever tools he could lay his hands on. The resultant piece often won awards in central Nebraska contests and/or became treasured pieces to those he gifted them to.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Mead; son, George P. (Kim) Mead; granddaughters: Jordan Mead and Alexis Mead; son David L. (Shona) Mead; grandchildren: Callie Hyronomous, Carson Mead, and Cloey Mead; brother Lloyd Mead and his partner Doris Vanvleet; sister, Ruth (Ron) Schuller; sister-in-law, Ellen Mead; brother, Charles (Judy) Mead; sister, Beth (Cletis) Dobesh; brother, Ron (Terri) Mead; and over 30 nephews, nieces, and cousins. 

George is preceded in death by his father, Ronald E. Mead; mother, Gladys F. Roberts; and brother, Merle E. Mead.

Please join us in celebrating George’s life at Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River, NE. Visitation is open on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10 A.M. with Terry Boshart officiating. Burial will follow at the Wood River Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Apfel Funeral home is assisting the family with arrangements, online condolences may be left at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.