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Obituary 1: printed June 19, 2007 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

GARY W. SMITH, 63

Gary W. Smith, 63, of Blair, died Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services were Monday, June 18, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, north of Arlington. Interment was at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Gary William Smith was born Feb. 18, 1944, in Omaha to William “Bill” and Vada (Knight) Smith. He was raised on the family homestead in Irvington along with his siblings, Vivian (Wendell Faber), Donna (Ed Townsend), Linda (Otto Hagedorn), Mike (Marlene) and Dave (Darlense), who share the memory of him today.

Throughout his life, he lived with integrity, compassion, and devotion to his family and friends. He had the great fortune of having the past 12 weeks to focus on the celebration of his life.

In love and laughter, he leaves his stories to his favorite daughters: Wendy and Rick Hilgenkamp, with granddaughters, Hannah and Lily; Amy and Jim Sunderman with granddaughters, Kaileigh and Megan; and Lisa and her partner, Harry Hamel, with grandson Avery; dear friends, Troy and Korene McCandless and Callie and Jack; and many other special people who, at one time or another, sat at the table, heard, shared, and will remember.

He continued to learn new skills as he moved through life. Each career that resulted gave something practical to others, whether as a farmer, auctioneer, realtor or locksmith. By his words and acts, he reminded his family that life was to be lived in constant celebration of the little things. So, with that in mind, his family asks that memorials be made to the Washington County fair, or to the children’s section of the Blair Public Library.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Obituary 2: printed June 17, 2007 Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska

SMITH—Gary W, age 63 of Blair. Survived by daughters, Wendy, and her husband Rick Hilgenkamp, granddaughters Hannah and Lily; Amy, and her husband, Jim Sunderman, granddaughters Kaileigh and Megan; Lisa, and her partner Harry Hamel, grandson Avery; sisters and brothers, Vivian (Wendell faber), Donna (Ed Townsend), Linda (Otto Hagadorn), Mike (Marlene), and Dave (Darlene); dear friends Troy and Korene McCandles, children Callie and Jack; and many other special friends.

Services 2:00 P.M. Monday and St. Paul Lutheran Church in rural Arlington. Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery. Visitation will begin 10:00 A.M. Sunday at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Memorials be made to the Washington County Fair or the children’s section of the Blair Library.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, Blair, NE 402-426-2191

~~~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska library.~~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 51812203