Obit: Smith, Loretta
Helena (1918 - 2019)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Smith, Kudek, Shield, Wagner, Northup, Campbell, Kosowesky,
Robinette, Walz, Schubert, LeMahieu
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) /2019
Smith, Loretta Helena (30 June 1918 – 18 September 2019)
Loretta Smith, 101, of Granton died Sept. 18, 2019.
Loretta Helena Schield was born June 30, 1918, in Neillsville and lived most
of her life in Granton.
The daughter of area farmers Frank Schield and Anna Kudek, Loretta attended
teacher training school in Neillsville. After graduation, she taught grades
one through eight at various one-room schools in the Neillsville and Granton
areas. While working as a teacher, she met Vernon Edward Albert Smith, who
was serving on the school board at the time.
In 1941, just before turning 23, Loretta married Vernon, a Granton native
and three years her elder. They owned and operated a dairy farm in the
Granton area, where they raised their 13 children. In the late 1950’s,
Vernon opened Vern’s TV in Neillsville, a TV sales and repair store, and
after Vernon’s tragic death in an aviation accident in 1971, Loretta took
over store operations.
Loretta was a very positive lady who loved life and was a kind and generous
soul. Shew loved her cats and her garden, but most of all, she loved her
family. Ready with stories from her youth and teacher years, she always put
on a smile for visitors. She was a faithful pen pal to those who wrote to
her and became the de-facto family historian. She left behind many well
organized photo albums.
A woman of the greatest generation, Loretta was a devoted Catholic and
seldom missed a mass. She live to get to know and spend time with her
children’s children and beyond in a life full of years and blessings.
Loretta is survived by her 13 children, Gail Tessa Wagner, Kathleen (Ronnie)
Northup, Gene (Debbie) Smith, Dorothy Campbell, Russell (Carol) Smith, Ken (Dorothey)
Smith, Lois (Ron) Kosowesky, Sanford (Starla) Smith, Sandra Robinette, Janet
Walz, Diane (Tom) Schubert, Bruce (Julie) Smith and Virginia (Robert)
LeMahieu; dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one
great-great-granddaughter, a total of 90 direct descendants. She leaves a
legacy of education; several of her children and grandchildren are teachers.
She was very beloved and will be greatly missed.
A funeral mass will be held Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic
Church at 10:30 a.m. with visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial
will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery.
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