Gena L. Smith passed away peacefully at her home April 1, 2014, at the age of 45. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God and the love and prayers of family, friends and many supporters carried her through these past few years on battling with illness.
She was born Aug 3, 1968, the daughter of Merwyn and Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith. She attended Pardeeville Area Schools, graduating in 1986. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County and Milwaukee Area Technical College, obtaining a degree in mortuary science, which began her career as a funeral director. Gena was proud to follow in her father's footsteps and work in the family businesses, Smith Funeral Home and Furniture Store. Gena also proudly owned and operated Smith-Vangen Funeral home in Rio. Gena was a great example of integrity and generosity to us all. She made everyone feel special, whether it was through her work or giving of her time. She was a dreamer, always coming up with ideas to make her community and the world a better place. She felt it was an honor to do that. Her greatest honor was to serve her Lord Jesus. Gena was a member of Pardeeville United Methodist Church, and enjoyed attending many other area churches. She was a member of the Pardeeville Area Business Association, a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the Bridging Generations Foundation at Columbia Health Care Center, and the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. Gena believed where there is a wheel — there is a way! Her spirit will live on with all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Gena is survived by her greatest joys, her sons, Desalee John and Eyob Louis; dear friend, Donald Colt; her mother, Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith, Pardeeville; sister, Rhonda (Joseph) Hensler, West Bend; brother, Mark Smith, Pardeeville, and sister Nedra (Jared) Veronick, La Grange, Ky.; her nieces and nephews, Josiah, Johannah, Moriah and Matthias Hensler and Hayden and Jori Veronick; her aunts, Geraldine (Maurice) Cooper, Sara Smith and Donna Gallagher; goddaughter, Bekah Lou Taylor; many cousins and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Merwyn J. Smith; grandparents, George and Doris Smith, and Louis and Freida Sommer; aunt, Verna Cooper; uncles, Leo Gallagher, Francis Cooper and LaMar Smith. Heartfelt thanks to Janelle Zacho, Michele Baillies, Patti Fischer and Julie Fellows, for their continuous support and friendship.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, located at N3540 State Road 22 in Poynette, with the Rev. Norman Bude and the Rev. Chuck Walton officiating and the Rev. David Greenfield presiding. Interment will take place at Pardeeville Cemetery.
She was born Aug 3, 1968, the daughter of Merwyn and Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith. She attended Pardeeville Area Schools, graduating in 1986. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County and Milwaukee Area Technical College, obtaining a degree in mortuary science, which began her career as a funeral director. Gena was proud to follow in her father's footsteps and work in the family businesses, Smith Funeral Home and Furniture Store. Gena also proudly owned and operated Smith-Vangen Funeral home in Rio. Gena was a great example of integrity and generosity to us all. She made everyone feel special, whether it was through her work or giving of her time. She was a dreamer, always coming up with ideas to make her community and the world a better place. She felt it was an honor to do that. Her greatest honor was to serve her Lord Jesus. Gena was a member of Pardeeville United Methodist Church, and enjoyed attending many other area churches. She was a member of the Pardeeville Area Business Association, a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the Bridging Generations Foundation at Columbia Health Care Center, and the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. Gena believed where there is a wheel — there is a way! Her spirit will live on with all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Gena is survived by her greatest joys, her sons, Desalee John and Eyob Louis; dear friend, Donald Colt; her mother, Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith, Pardeeville; sister, Rhonda (Joseph) Hensler, West Bend; brother, Mark Smith, Pardeeville, and sister Nedra (Jared) Veronick, La Grange, Ky.; her nieces and nephews, Josiah, Johannah, Moriah and Matthias Hensler and Hayden and Jori Veronick; her aunts, Geraldine (Maurice) Cooper, Sara Smith and Donna Gallagher; goddaughter, Bekah Lou Taylor; many cousins and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Merwyn J. Smith; grandparents, George and Doris Smith, and Louis and Freida Sommer; aunt, Verna Cooper; uncles, Leo Gallagher, Francis Cooper and LaMar Smith. Heartfelt thanks to Janelle Zacho, Michele Baillies, Patti Fischer and Julie Fellows, for their continuous support and friendship.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, located at N3540 State Road 22 in Poynette, with the Rev. Norman Bude and the Rev. Chuck Walton officiating and the Rev. David Greenfield presiding. Interment will take place at Pardeeville Cemetery.
Gena L. Smith passed away peacefully at her home April 1, 2014, at the age of 45. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God and the love and prayers of family, friends and many supporters carried her through these past few years on battling with illness.
She was born Aug 3, 1968, the daughter of Merwyn and Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith. She attended Pardeeville Area Schools, graduating in 1986. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County and Milwaukee Area Technical College, obtaining a degree in mortuary science, which began her career as a funeral director. Gena was proud to follow in her father's footsteps and work in the family businesses, Smith Funeral Home and Furniture Store. Gena also proudly owned and operated Smith-Vangen Funeral home in Rio. Gena was a great example of integrity and generosity to us all. She made everyone feel special, whether it was through her work or giving of her time. She was a dreamer, always coming up with ideas to make her community and the world a better place. She felt it was an honor to do that. Her greatest honor was to serve her Lord Jesus. Gena was a member of Pardeeville United Methodist Church, and enjoyed attending many other area churches. She was a member of the Pardeeville Area Business Association, a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the Bridging Generations Foundation at Columbia Health Care Center, and the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. Gena believed where there is a wheel — there is a way! Her spirit will live on with all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Gena is survived by her greatest joys, her sons, Desalee John and Eyob Louis; dear friend, Donald Colt; her mother, Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith, Pardeeville; sister, Rhonda (Joseph) Hensler, West Bend; brother, Mark Smith, Pardeeville, and sister Nedra (Jared) Veronick, La Grange, Ky.; her nieces and nephews, Josiah, Johannah, Moriah and Matthias Hensler and Hayden and Jori Veronick; her aunts, Geraldine (Maurice) Cooper, Sara Smith and Donna Gallagher; goddaughter, Bekah Lou Taylor; many cousins and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Merwyn J. Smith; grandparents, George and Doris Smith, and Louis and Freida Sommer; aunt, Verna Cooper; uncles, Leo Gallagher, Francis Cooper and LaMar Smith. Heartfelt thanks to Janelle Zacho, Michele Baillies, Patti Fischer and Julie Fellows, for their continuous support and friendship.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, located at N3540 State Road 22 in Poynette, with the Rev. Norman Bude and the Rev. Chuck Walton officiating and the Rev. David Greenfield presiding. Interment will take place at Pardeeville Cemetery.
She was born Aug 3, 1968, the daughter of Merwyn and Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith. She attended Pardeeville Area Schools, graduating in 1986. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County and Milwaukee Area Technical College, obtaining a degree in mortuary science, which began her career as a funeral director. Gena was proud to follow in her father's footsteps and work in the family businesses, Smith Funeral Home and Furniture Store. Gena also proudly owned and operated Smith-Vangen Funeral home in Rio. Gena was a great example of integrity and generosity to us all. She made everyone feel special, whether it was through her work or giving of her time. She was a dreamer, always coming up with ideas to make her community and the world a better place. She felt it was an honor to do that. Her greatest honor was to serve her Lord Jesus. Gena was a member of Pardeeville United Methodist Church, and enjoyed attending many other area churches. She was a member of the Pardeeville Area Business Association, a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the Bridging Generations Foundation at Columbia Health Care Center, and the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. Gena believed where there is a wheel — there is a way! Her spirit will live on with all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Gena is survived by her greatest joys, her sons, Desalee John and Eyob Louis; dear friend, Donald Colt; her mother, Betty Lou (Sommer) Smith, Pardeeville; sister, Rhonda (Joseph) Hensler, West Bend; brother, Mark Smith, Pardeeville, and sister Nedra (Jared) Veronick, La Grange, Ky.; her nieces and nephews, Josiah, Johannah, Moriah and Matthias Hensler and Hayden and Jori Veronick; her aunts, Geraldine (Maurice) Cooper, Sara Smith and Donna Gallagher; goddaughter, Bekah Lou Taylor; many cousins and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Merwyn J. Smith; grandparents, George and Doris Smith, and Louis and Freida Sommer; aunt, Verna Cooper; uncles, Leo Gallagher, Francis Cooper and LaMar Smith. Heartfelt thanks to Janelle Zacho, Michele Baillies, Patti Fischer and Julie Fellows, for their continuous support and friendship.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, located at N3540 State Road 22 in Poynette, with the Rev. Norman Bude and the Rev. Chuck Walton officiating and the Rev. David Greenfield presiding. Interment will take place at Pardeeville Cemetery.
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