Marie Jane (Vlasin) Smith was born on October 19,1924, at the farm home south of Madrid, Nebraska, to August and Anna (Cizer) Vlasin. She was baptized and confirmed at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Elsie, Nebraska. As a child she attended country school through the 8th grade then going to work on the family farm milking cows and helping with all other farm chores. During this time she met Wayne Smith.

Marie married Wayne Jack Smith on October 18,1941, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wallace, Nebraska, and to this union 4 children were born: Vesta, Kenny, Dotty and Stan. The couple made the Wauneta area their home for these many years, moving to their present location in 1961.

Marie passed away on Thursday morning , November 14, 2019, at the Wauneta Care and Therapy Center where she had been a resident since May, 2018.

She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church of Wauneta and an active member of St. John’s Altar Society. She was also a member of the Eagles. During Marie’s marriage she worked as a cook in Wauneta cafes. She was the manager and cook for the Imperial Auction Market Café for several years, all the while also doing all the bookwork for Wayne’s custom and Wauneta Truck Line businesses and raising a family. Even doing all of this she enjoyed her hobbies of gardening, raising chickens, playing cards, baking and her “favorite,”caring for her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Survivors include:
Daughter: Vesta Dack of Paxton, NE
Son: Kenny and wife Barb of Wauneta, NE
Daughter: Dotty Bartels and husband Gene of Wauneta, NE
Son: Stan and wife Vicky of Lincoln, NE
11 Grandchildren
24 Great Grandchildren
6 Great Great Grandchildren

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, 8 siblings, her husband Wayne, son-in-law Dean Dack and Grandson Spencer Smith.



A Rosary will be recited Sunday evening, November 17, 2019, 7:00 P.M. (MT) at St. John’s Catholic church in Wauneta with the Funeral Mass to follow Monday
morning, November 18, 2019, 10:00 A.M. (MT) at St. John’s Catholic Church of Wauneta, with Father Christopher Miller officiating.
Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.

Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, November 18, 2019, 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. (MT) at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wauneta.

Memorials have been established in Marie’s memory to St. John’s Catholic Church and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta in Charge of Arrangements