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Kathleen Jo (Caha) Hood, age 80, of Thedford, NE, passed away on July 1, 2026.

Kathy was born in Alliance, NE, on May 11, 1946, to Bernard and Hazel Caha. Kathy was the youngest of two children.

Born, raised, and confirmed under God in the United Church of Christ faith, Kathy joined several churches along her life journey, including Hemingford, Lincoln, Crete, & Thedford UCC.

Kathy attended Hemingford High School, graduating 2nd in her class. She subsequently attended UNL as a music major, prior to marrying and having two daughters, Angel in April of 1968 and Shauna in October of 1969.

Kathy held several jobs over her life course, working for the Federal Government under the Soil Conservation Service and Farmer’s Home Administration, as well as being employed by the Student Life Office at Doane College. Her most fulfilling job though was working as a CNA at the Wilber Nursing Home, in the Alzheimer’s Unit.

In 1984, Kathy married Kevin Hood, who lovingly accepted her and her two teenage daughters, taking them in as his own. Kathy and Kevin moved to Thedford in 1996 for Kevin’s work. Kathy quickly immersed herself in this small-town community life. Kevin and she joined the UCC and became church Clerk for a number of years. Kathy was also the regular pianist and/or organist, playing beautiful music that everyone enjoyed. Kathy worked various jobs in the area, but her favorite was taking care of others and the elderly. More recently, Kathy took on teaching music in the school system at Ballard Marsh, Brownlee, Goose Creek, and then Thedford. Additionally, due to her love of music, she gave private music lessons to many, many students.

Kathy’s life loves were reading and her family. She loved them strongly and lived vicariously through them. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, AJ and Korri, as they grew from infants to toddlers to school children.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, John Bernard and Hazel Caha, her sister, Judith Ann Etherington, and her nephew, Robert Clark.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Kevin Hood of Thedford, daughters, Angel Renninger of Junea, Alaska, Shauna Baird (husband Jim) of Mount Pleasant, Texas, grandson Anthony Jacob Cook (wife Jacque) of Lincoln, Nebraska, granddaughter Korrina Baird (fiancé Travis Perry) of Auburn, Washington.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Thedford United Church of Christ.

Memorials in lieu of flowers to Thedford United Church of Christ