Judy Woods

June 25, 1944 Judy Cheryl Guida was born in Mennonite hospital in Beatrice Nebraska to Harlan C. and Mildred Guida. Judy spent many of her formative years in Red Cloud Nebraska enjoying life in the small town that Willa Cather made famous, and skating at Inavale NE. She also enjoyed spending time at both of her grandparents’ farms Alvin and Mary Hubka, and Moses and Jose Guida east of Virginia NE. During her 9th grade year at Red Cloud her father received a promotion as manager of the JCPenney store in Independence Kansas where Judy enjoyed high school and especially her French teacher who led her to a lifelong love of all things French and which she taught in several schools across Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa. After high school graduation and one year at Independence Junior College she chose to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln NE, where she garnered many honors including president of her sorority Alpha Gamma Delta, Ideal Plainswoman and Big Snob in addition to many thespian awards for acting. It was there during a school orientation in dance in 1963 that she met a just out of the USMC Warren.
After graduation she was selected to teach in the Jefferson County School Colorado school district with her first assignment teaching Language Arts in the Golden Jr High school. She and Warren would marry in the summer of 1967 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln NE and after a 1-day honeymoon returned to Colorado so that Warren could go back to work at JCPenney in downtown Denver. In June of 1968 they moved to Scottsbluff NE because of Warren’s work, and she began teaching in the Scottsbluff senior high school. Again, because of Warren’s work, they moved to Lincoln NE, where she taught part time at Irving Junior High School while waiting for the good news in October 1972 of their adoption of daughter Wendy Ruth Woods from Lutheran Family Services in Omaha. Judy continued teaching part-time and soon came Jeffrey Daniel Woods 1 year and 2 days after the birth of daughter Wendy. In May of 1975 Warren decided to change jobs and the family moved to Oelwein Iowa where Warren was co-manager with PAMIDA and Judy once again because of her excellent credentials was able to start teaching at Oelwein High School. She continued to teach there even after Warren’s transfer as store Manager to Independence IA, until June of 1982 when Warren changed jobs to work for Sernett and the family moved to our final stop in Creston, IA. Judy taught at Orient High School until 1988 when she started teaching at Corning High School where she enjoyed escorting students and some parents on trips to Europe, especially France. She achieved her master’s degree in education administration from Iowa State University and in 1999 left Corning to become Secondary Principal at Cumberland/Massena a position she held until both she and Warren retired in 2003. She later taught part time TAG and French at East Union for the duration of her Iowa teaching years. She was very involved with the ISEA and was president of her local and lead negotiator especially in Corning.
Judy was involved in many organizations including PEO, Chautauqua, Ladies Literary, Union County Democrats and was elected a leader several times. She enjoyed playing bridge in several groups. She served on the Salem Lutheran Church council and was President of the Congregation more than once. She gave several lay sermons and was remembered for her humor in preaching God’s word.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Vicki Clarke, grandparents, and a loved niece Carla Gierhan Grotrian. She is survived by husband Warren, Daughter Wendy Willets, husband Chad and their daughters Olivia and Lauren, Son Jeffrey Woods, husband Nick Miller and stepsons Zach, wife Allison, and Carson and her only cousin Cathie Guida, 6 nieces, and 2 nephews.
Written by Warren Woods