LOIS MARIE SMETANA
LOIS MARIE SMETANA
Lois Marie Smetana passed away Thursday, Nov. 14, surrounded by her loving family. Lois was born to Thone and Selma Karnitz Oct. 22, 1932, in Pine Valley Township, Neillsville, WI. She grew up on a dairy farm, attended Hillside School and then Neillsville High School where she graduated as salutatorian of the class of 1950.
In November 1950, she started work at Black River Falls for the Wisconsin Conservation Department (later Wisconsin DNR) where she met and later married Bernard Smetana June 8, 1957. They were married for 50 years until Bernie’s passing Aug. 22, 2007. They welcomed five children to their family over the years. In addition to spending time with family, Lois and Bernie enjoyed travelling the world together. Lois helped start the Black River Country Abstract Company in 1974 and worked there for over 20 years, then continued for many years on a part-time basis. She was an active member of the Town & Country Homemakers Club for 63 years; she held the offices of county/district secretary, county/district international chairwoman, as well as being a 4-H leader and teacher’s aide when her children were younger. She was active in her church, including Parish Council, Altar Society, and teaching CCD. She did a great deal of volunteer sewing for organizations in need, including making bibs for new mothers, quiltlets for Nicaragua, sanitary products for Africa and embroidering of the baptismal shawls for the church.
She volunteered with Friends Sharing Food for 15 years, acting as coordinator for most of that time. She was honored as one of Jackson County’s Women in History and won the Jefferson Award for community service.
Preceding Lois in death were her husband Bernie, parents Selma and Thone, brother Kenneth and sister-in-law Virginia; nephew Kerry Karnitz and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
Surviving Lois are her children, Lori (Jeff Swiggum), Lisa (Thomas Seifert), Mark (Karen), Brian (Lou Olson) and Beth (John Steindorf); grandchildren Rachel (Dane Knudsen) Smetana-Knudsen, Nicole Smetana, Olivia (Kaden Berg) Steindorf-Berg and Sgt. William Steindorf, USMC; and great-grandson Landen Knudsen, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visitation will take place at the Buswell Funeral Home Thursday, Nov. 21 from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. and again Friday, Nov. 22 from 9:30 am until the funeral service at 10:30 a.m., which will be officiated by Pastor Jenny Hatleli.
Lunch will be served at the Legion Hall following the service. Burial will take place at the Irving Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be addressed to Friends Sharing Food, Interfaith Caregivers and the Boys and Girls Club.
(The family wishes to thank St. Croix Hospice for the care Lois received during the last months of her life.)