My father, Kenneth Ray Elwood, who had a good sense of humor, was a hardworking, honest, kind, man;
A native of Northeast Nebraska who grew up on that land; 

Dad went to the service right out of high school;
He enlisted in the Army Air Corp from the farming land so rich and rural; 

Kenneth was sent to the Philippines after basic training, he became a mechanic and supply sergeant, serving his country in WW II;
He learned to repair P-38, and P-52 airplanes, he could of have been a trouble shooter traveling the sky of blue; 

A desire to farm and be with his family were the reasons to come back home;
He felt by traveling the world, he would be all alone; 

So, my dad, returned home to Nebraska after serving his country for 2 years;
He  worked as a car mechanic in Creighton, NE, met Iva Jean Young at the Plainview Roller Rink, fell in love, married, as he continued on with his  careers; 

After working for a while at Jess Tepner Chevrolet on cars so many;
A family was started with their first born child, Nancy, by Jean and Kenny; 

So he left the car dealership to farm for many years in Pierce and Antelope County;
Corn, alfalfa, and soybeans there were plentiful seeds and a fruitful bounty; 

Three more children were born Sue, Terry and Dan;
Dad continued to work on cars and tractors as the whole family farmed the rich farm land; 

As the years evolved with the children growing up and then dad and mom were all alone;
My father expanded his expertise by learning diesel engines and repaired diesel tractors and irrigation engines as he was well known; 

My dad would not want to be known in this way;
He worked very hard and fix it, it would stay; 

Why do I know this, I remember hearing my mother say “let Kenny Elwood, fix it!”, and other potential customers would say, “he is up to that test;” 

Sometimes I wondered with the dual businesses if he got enough rest;
My father, the mechanic and farmer, was the best! 

Now you know the rest of the story;
Thank you, dad, I know you do not want any of that fame or glory; 

Written by Daughter, Nancy
February, 2014

Funeral Services for Kenneth R. Elwood, age 79, of Brunswick, were held 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at the Brunswick Community Church in Brunswick. Revernd John Kringle will officiate with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery in Creighton.  Military Rites will be conducted by American Legion Post #357 of Brunswick and V.F.W. Post #1151 of Creighton.   

Visitation was Monday, April 24, 2006, from 5 to 7 P.M. at the Brockhaus Funeral Home in Creighton.   

Mr. Elwood died, Friday, April 21, 2006, at the Norfolk Veterans Home.   

Family suggest donation to the Brunswick Community Church or the Norfolk Veterans Home.   

Kenneth Ray Elwood was born to Marvin, Sr. and Edith Catherine (Benedict) Elwood on December 4, 1926 on a farm near Winnetoon, Nebraska.  He graduated from Creighton High School in 1944, enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1944, serving until 1946.  He married Iva Jean Young on December 4, 1947 at the Crawford Valley Methodist Church.  From this union two daughters, Nancy Lee and Sue Ann, and two sons, Terry Lynn and Daniel Ray were born.  He farmed in Pierce and Antelope Counties from 1950 to 1980.  He worked at Plainview International and Fultons Fertilizer, and then started his own business.  He was a member of the Brunswick Community Church as an elder and was also a member of the Creighton V.F.W. Post #1151and Bruswick American legion post #357.   

Survivors include his wife, Iva Jean Elwood of Norfolk, his daughter Nancy Elwood of Denver, his daughter and son-in-law Sue and Andy Mann of Norfolk, his sons and daughters-in-law Terry and Nikki Elwood of Omaha and Dan and Marilyn Elwood of Plainview, six grandchildren, Andy K. and Kenny Mann, Natalie and Nate Elwood, Cody and Lovay Elwood, Amanda Sorensen, great granddaughter Layla Buchanan, his brothers and their spouses Richard and Leota Elwood and Marvin Jr. and Lajean Elwood all of Plainview and many nieces and nephews.   

He was preceded in death by his parents Marvin and Edith Elwood, brother Robert and daughter-in-law Lola Elwood.

MY OLD BUDDY LEE (1944-1992)

WE HAVE SEEN SOME SIGHTS TOGETHER,
MANY LONG YEARS AGO.
AND NOW YOU LAY BY CROSSES WHITE,
LINED ROW UPON ROW.

I THINK ABOUT THOSE DAYS MORE LATELY,
AND THE "THANK YOU" I NEVER GAVE.
BUT I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT A "THANK YOU",
FOR THE LIVES YOU SAVED.

REMEMBERING THE DARK WET NIGHT, WE LANDED,
THROUGH THE MANY SHIPS WRECKED IN MANILA BAY.
TWO SCARED, YOUNG, 18 YEAR OLD, FARM BOYS,
WAITING FOR THE WARMTH, AND LIGHT OF DAY.

AND AS THAT FIRST DAY WAS DAWNING
SO GOOD TO FEEL OUR FEET ON LAND.
BUT AS FAR AS OUR EYES COULD SEE,
NOT ONE BUILDING WAS LEFT TO STAND.

WHAT A BATTLE TOOK PLACE HERE,
SOME 30 ODD DAYS AGO.
THE OLD AND CRIPPLED WITH LITTLE NATIVE CHILDREN,
SOON LEARNED TO CALL US ALL G.I. JOE.

OUR CANDY, GUM AND FOOD RATIONS,
DIDN'T LAST BUT A VERY SHORT TIME.
HOW COULD A WAR, AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE,
BE SO DESTRUCTIVE, AND SO UNKIND.

THE FOUL SMELLS, AND  SHREDDED DEAD TREES AND GRASS,
NOTHING COULD LIVE IN THIS FORSAKEN LAND.
I WAS SENT BACK TO PALAWAN,
AND YOU LEE, WENT ON TO JAPAN.

I PRAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOME DAY,
AS WE LAND ON THAT GOLDEN SHORE,
WHERE THERE IS ONLY PEACE, LOVE AND JOY,
AND NOT ANY SIGNS OF WAR.

                                                                                         K. Elwood