Rhonda Kay Denman

Rhonda Denman died peacefully, lovingly surrounded by her family on March 4, 2025 at the age of 66. 

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Babels Barn in Wood River with Derek Apfel officiating. Burial will follow in the Wood River Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 PM Friday, March 7th at Babels Barn. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wood River Community Foundation, Wood River Fire Department or Wood River Elementary School. 

Rhonda is survived by her mother Pearl (Reed) Mead of Wood River, her brother 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. 

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 Schools 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 great grandchild. 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.