Florence Catherine Smid

Florence Catherine Smid was the ninth child born to Fred and Mary Marx Colling on July 22, 1925 on a farm near Granville, Iowa. She attended rural school for two years and then St. Joseph parochial school in Granville until the tenth grade. She completed her high school at St. Mary’s Academy in Alton, Iowa, graduating in 1942. On February 1, 1943 she began working at LeMars, Iowa in the employment of Luken Furniture Store and Funeral Home until her marriage to Robert K. Smid of LeMars, Iowa on January 26, 1948. The couple lived on a farm near LeMars for five years. In 1953 they moved to the parental Colling farm near Granville. Florence was active in school and church organizations in the St. Joseph parish in Granville. The couple retired from farming and moved to Granville in 1990. Robert died on April 7, 2001, and Florence moved to the Crowne Pointe retirement home in Omaha, Nebraska in 2011. Her life was greatly enriched by her close connection to her family, her many friendships in Granville, and the new friends she made at Crowne Pointe. Survivors include: son Dennis (Mary Kay), Omaha, NE, daughter Ruth (Bob) Schilmoeller, Burnsville, MN; grandchildren Laura (Jamie) MacGregor, Kelowna, BC, Kate (Taylor) Viotto, Fayetteville, NC, Adam Schilmoeller, Lakeville, MN, and Paul (Andria) Schilmoeller, Eagan, MN; great-grandchildren Delaney MacGregor and Miles Schilmoeller; sister Agnes LaBahn, Merrill, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Florence was preceded in death by parents Fred and Mary Colling; sisters and brothers-in-laws Catherine (Henry) Haverkamp, Marian (William) Pottebaum, Rita (Isidore) Harpenau; Sister Romana Colling OSF; brothers and sisters-in-law John (Elizabeth Grady) Colling, Norbert (Phyllis Christoffel) Colling; brothers-in-law Richard LaBahn and Donald (Bev Seignor) Smid; sister-in-law Irma (George) Bohlke; and several nieces and nephews. Florence generously donated her body to the Nebraska Anatomical Society to support research and the training of health care providers in Nebraska with special attention to the study of Merkel cell carcinoma. Internment of remains will follow in the family plot in Granville, IA. Funeral mass 10 AM Saturday, Apr. 7 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3122 S. 74th St., Omaha, NE. Visitation Friday from 5-7 PM with a Vigil service at 7 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Joan of Arc church or school.

Florence Catherine Smid

July 22, 1925 - April 2, 2018