Mary Lou (Wood) Baum

Mary Lou (Wood) Baum, 86, of rural Tecumseh, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2023. She was born on July 1, 1936, to Charlie and Gladys (Nicholas) Wood. Mary Lou grew up on a farm outside of Dewitt until she moved to town with her parents. She graduated at the age of 16 with the 1953 class of Dewitt Public School, after which she attended Bryan Memorial Hospital Nurses Training program in Lincoln and became licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1956. Mary Lou was proud of her profession and continued happily caring for others the rest of her life. It was in this same year, 1956, that she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Glen F. Baum on May 29, at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Dewitt, a marriage that would last sixty-three years until Glen’s death parted them. To this union, four children were born: Bill, Tom, Sharon, and John. It was in December of 1960 that Glen, Mary Lou, and family settled on their Baum home place, Evergreen Farms, rural Tecumseh. Mary Lou was an active member of the community throughout her life, holding numerous nursing positions along with various activities such as the Maple Grove Home Board, the Tecumseh Music Club, and the Second Saturday Quilting Group, among others.

In addition to her love of Glen and her family, Mary Lou found pleasure and relaxation in her music as she was a skilled pianist and organist, spent limited time playing flute and piccolo, and experimented with the violin. She was an avid seamstress and quilter, spending many hours piecing together quilts and wall hangings for family and finishing most with hand-quilting. She loved to read and even tried her hand at creative writing. Most would say, however, that you could often find Mary Lou out walking or spending time in the tree swing or the porch swing. A visit with Mary Lou would usually find her standing at the kitchen window surveying the yard, or at the south door gazing down at the pond. Whether stopping in or just driving by, she would have a friendly wave to welcome or send along the way.

Mary Lou is survived by sons Bill Baum, Tom and Teresa Baum, and John Baum, and Susan Baum, all of Tecumseh; daughter Sharon and Galen Kuska of Exeter; 11 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Leatrice Wood of Devine, Texas, and Connie Baum of Tecumseh; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Gladys (Nicholas) Wood; husband Glen, grandson Tim Baum; daughter-in-law Linda Baum; brothers and sisters-in-law Charles Allen and Etra Wood, Kent and Blanche Wood, and Bill Wood. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (Maple Grove) rural Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastor Angie Vertz officiating. A link to the livestream of the service is now available on the bottom of Mary Lou's webpage.  

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. The Nebraska Nurse's Honor Guard will be present at 7:00 for their remembrance ceremony.  

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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