RESUME FOR MARIAN M. HENSLEY
Marian Hensley was born in Grand Island, NE, the only child of Lawrence Marion and Mollie Hofferber Craft. As a small child she lived in Aurora, NE, Bremerton, WA, and Grand Island, NE where she graduated from high school. For many years she assisted her parents in the management of a neighborhood grocery store, which they operated for almost 30 years.
Upon graduation of high school, she attended Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings, NE. After graduation she became employed at various hospitals, including the VA Medical Center where she later met her husband, Gerald, while he was a patient there. They were married in 1956 and came to Wood River in 1961 after Gerald received his first teaching job.
Marian and Gerald have three children: Ann Bentley. (a teacher and mother of three living in Miller, NE), Kay Davis (a registered nurse in the Grand Island School System and mother of one), and Steve Hensley (residing in a Bethphage Mission House in Holdrege).
Nursing has always played an important role in Marian's life. She has often been called upon by neighbors as well as friends for her assistance. She worked part-time while raising her family. In 1974, she became employed at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home where she has held the positions of staff nurse, Director of Nursing, and Nursing Consultant. Marian has also been active on various church committees at the Methodist Church and has been a member of the Ambulance Squad.
Her sense of pride in the community is evident in her constant concern for her fellow neighbor and-friend. She has worked hard to see that the residents of Wood River would have a comfortable, caring place to reside in their later years by helping to make the nursing home one of the best around, especially for a small community.
Marian would want to be best remembered by the community for her kindness, caring, and neighborliness that she has shown for many years. She has instilled in her children the need to, develop long lasting friendships and to always be kind to your fellow man. She has proven to be a true friend to many in this community.
RESUME FOR GERALD E. HENSLEY
Gerald Hensley was born and raised in Central City, Nebraska, the son of Joseph Ernest and Jessie Catherine Breckon Hensley. He was the youngest of 9 children residing on the family farm at the edge of town. Gerald assisted his parents on their farm, as they raised many crops including sugar beets and melons which they also sold to customers.
Upon graduation of high school, he attended Nebraska Teacher's College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) however his academics were detained due to the Korean Conflict. After serving four years in the Navy, he soon went back to college and some years later attained his Masters Degree in Education.
Gerald began his teaching career in the Wood River School System. While employed he held the positions of Superintendent, Principal, and teacher of Industrial Arts. He retired in 1991 after 33 years of educating many youth inWood River.
Gerald and his wife, Marian, were married in 1956.They have three children; Ann Bentley (a teacher and mother of three living in Millers NE), Kay Davis (a registered nurse in the Grand Island School System and mother of one), and Steve Hensley (residing in a Bethphage Mission House in Holdrege).
For many years Gerald Hensley has held various positions within the community: City Councilman, Fireman, Ambulance Captain and Member of the Squad, Board Member of the Methodist Church, Maintanence for the Oasis Housing Complex, and Member of the Wood River Foundation. He takes pride in his community and wants to instill the same pride in generations to come. The "small town" atmosphere is indicative of the hometown feeling that he has felt here as
a resident for over 30 years. He knew that this was a town to raise a family in and develop long lasting friendships with neighbors.
If there was one thing that Gerald would want people to remember him by it would be that he always gave of himself in the church. community, and school so that the town would always flourish and maintain that hometown feeling.