Jeffrey "Jeff" Wade Smith

Jeff W. Smith was born in Fremont, Nebraska on November 24, 1965, to Colette and Neil Smith. His family lived in rural Valley and welcomed a sister in 1971, Angela Dawn. He attended grade school at the rural country school in Valley. They then moved to North Platte, NE, where he played basketball and was very successful as a freshman and sophomore. His family then moved to Millard, NE, where he attended Millard North, and continued his basketball career, where he was awarded “most made free throws in a season.” Jeff graduated from Millard North High School in 1984. Stories of his high school career live on and on. His favorite was stealing a full-size iron horse from Skyline and placing it in the front yard of Millard North High School! Jeff went to college at Iowa Lakes Community College from 1984-1986 and played on the basketball and baseball teams and met his wife of nearly 40 years. Jeff and Judy Gilley were happily married on July 19, 1986. They made their first home in Omaha. Jeff worked for Custom Lawns of Omaha and coached kids from the YMCA. He also continued to play pick-up basketball games with “The Camelot Crew” friends he still has today. He injured his knee, which sidelined him from playing basketball. On June 3, 1992, he welcomed his first child, Kelsey May Smith. Jeff then began working for Teeters Silk Flowers covering the Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri territory for them. He won “salesman of the year”-people always said he could sell anything to anyone. The family then moved to Waterloo, where they welcomed their son, Nathan Wade Smith, on April 8, 1995. Jeff became involved in Waterloo Fire Department and was voted to be the Assistant Fire Chief. He enjoyed his time in the fire department and made some life-long friends. Jeff was such a good father, not wanting to miss anything the kids were involved in, so he started a new job at the Douglas County Sheriff’s office. The family then moved to a farm north of Valley where they raised cows for the kids to show in 4-H. Jeff became Fire Chief for the Valley Fire Department. He competed with the fire department on several weekends at various city days doing water fights. Some very good times were had, and friends were made at these events. Jeff started coaching his own children in basketball, baseball, and football. He loved to teach the different sports and was such a proud and involved father. He continued to follow all the kids he coached and looked forward to hearing of their success. As his kids were growing up and he was still working for the Sheriff’s office, he would make the report from SAT COM on Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve. Kelsey and Nate loved listening to him. In June 2008, the family’s home was hit by a tornado, and the house was destroyed. They then moved to a rental for a year, renting from a dear family friend who stepped up and helped Jeff’s family. They then found their current home on an acreage outside of Waterloo. Jeff left the Sheriff’s office to work for Prospect Hill Cemetery, and assist at Reichmuth Funeral Home as the groundsman, where he worked for 20 plus years. Jeff was most proud of his children, Kelsey and Nathan. He would brag about them to anyone who would listen. He enjoyed working with cows and helping Nathan with haying season. He loved discussing sports with everyone, but especially with his son, Nate. He enjoyed going to any sporting events, and loved cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs, Nebraska Huskers, Kansas City Chiefs, Millard North Mustangs, and Douglas County West teams. He enjoyed working the gate at football games and scorebook at basketball games for DC West. He also loved to go watch Iowa Western Reivers play (always hoping for a fight!). He loved westerns and would argue all day long that John Wayne was the best cowboy. He watched The Andy Griffith Show every day and loved Charlie Brown shows. Tragedy struck the family in 2014 when they lost their daughter, Kelsey May, to cancer. Jeff always cherished his family and would do anything for any one of them, and he enjoyed making them smile. He never met someone he couldn’t start a conversation with and had a memory that wouldn’t fail. Jeff loved his pups, his cows, and his family. He loved hard and faithfully. Jeff passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, NE at the age of 60 years and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kelsey, father Neil, and Pops Ron Wiggins. Jeff is survived by his wife Judy, son Nathan and his fiancée Kasey, her son Kayson, and a grandchild on the way, his mom Colette Wiggins, sister and brother-in-law Angie and Jose Zuniga, mother-in-law Janice Gilley, brother-in-law Jeff & Juanita Gilley, sisters-in-law Jackie & Mark Gannon and Jody & Rick Fox, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jeffrey "Jeff" Wade Smith

November 24, 1965 - December 18, 2025