Cynthia Clare Smith

Cynthia Clare “Cindy” (Graske) Smith was born April 4, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska to August F. and Clare J. (Krejci) Graske. Cindy grew up in Omaha where she attended Mt. View elementary school and graduated from Omaha Marian High School in 1965. After high school, she attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for a year. Growing up, Cindy enjoyed swimming and playing with her brothers and sisters, and began a lifelong love of animals by showing dogs and horses. Cindy married Burton Smith in Council Bluffs, Iowa in June 1984. The couple raised Cindy’s children; Gary, Travis and Camey in Omaha, before moving to Elkhorn in the early ‘80’s. Cindy worked for many years with G&G Manufacturing in various roles. She also took great pride in helping design, build and run both Chance Ridge Veterinary Hospital in 1984 and Chance Ridge Event Center in 2004. Through the years she stayed active by barrel racing, breeding Rottweilers, and grading the roads on her tractor. In quieter times, she enjoyed gardening, fishing and mushroom hunting. Cindy was a strong-willed, funny, caring, loyal and determined woman. She hated a dirty floor and being late, and looked forward to a good steak, especially from Farmer Brown’s. She loved her family and friends, and cherished her 3 children and her years with Burton. She always had fun traveling to rodeos with the family. Cindy had an artistic side, and had a calming effect on animals. She would often say, “Love you more than you love me”, and you could talk with her about anything. Cindy passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at her home near Waterloo, NE at the age of 75 years, 5 months, and 25 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Gus & Clare Graske, son Gary Smith, daughter Cameron Smith, and brother Gary Graske. Cindy is survived by her husband Burton Smith, son Travis, and wife Cindy Smith, and their son, Cody, stepchildren; Doug, wife Kelly Smith, Aaron Smith, and Belinda, husband Mike Gardiner, sister Roxann Tucker, brother Lee, and wife Les Graske, and their children Rick (significant other Christine Von Dollen) Graske and Jamie (husband Shawn) Leahy, and their children Myles and Owen. Funeral service 11 AM Thursday at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Interment at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Elkhorn. Visitation Wednesday from 3-8 PM at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 5-8 PM. Memorials to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Cynthia Clare Smith

April 4, 1947 - September 29, 2022