Esther J. "Nanny" Smith
Esther “Nanny” Julia (Heike) Smith, 96, passed from this life lovingly surrounded by her family, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at her daughter’s home.
She was born June 19, 1918, in Canton Township, Mondovi, Wis., to Louise and Wilhelm Heike, (“King Heike”). Nanny attended the country school and graduated from eighth grade. The depression hit and they could not afford to send her to high school, so she stayed home to help run the family farm. As a young woman, Nanny liked to attend ball games and dances at Club 10. At one of the dances, she met her future husband, John “Bill” Smith, who had an orchestra called the Rhythm Playboys. They courted and were married on Sept. 30, 1939, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Chickasaw County, Iowa. They were married in a double wedding with Nanny’s cousin, Leonard Brion and his bride, Wilma (Hewitt) Brion. Nanny and Bill traveled for years in their “Airstream” while Bill was doing his job, grading roads. He entered the SeaBees (Navy) in 1942 to fight in World War II. After the war they settled in Durand, Wis., and later moved to Eau Claire. Nanny and Bill were married for 43 years before he preceded her in death in 1982. She moved to West Salem, Wis., in August of 1995 to be closer to her family. Nanny’s stories will always be remembered by her family. They saw so much history through her eyes. Their favorite stories included: when she sent 10 cents to Madison, Wis., and in return she receivied her first driver’s license; how she would keep the milk cool in the spring brook; and how much she enjoyed making her “home brew”. Nanny always kept her grandchildren and great-grandchildren well stocked with jams and homemade treats. She made sure their socks were darned and their clothes were pressed. Nanny was a huge sports fan who loved the Dallas Cowboys, even when they played the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Wisconsin Badgers, and professional hockey. Nanny will be her family’s guiding light and will remain in their hearts forever.
Survivors include her daughter, Carol (Jerry, Sr.) Unser of West Salem; her grandson, Jerry, Jr., (Joan) Unser of West Salem and their two children, Lauren and Brandon; her granddaughter, Jill (Jerry) Hockersmith of Sarona, Wis., and their five children: Josh (Colleen) Sagler and their son, Nanny’s great-great-grandson, Jackson; Justin Sagler; Jordan Sagler; Mollie Hockersmith; and Grace Hockersmith; and many nieces and nephews who were very special to her; and her very dear friend, Joann Brodacki.
In addition to her husband, Nanny was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Vera (Clem) Bauer and Elsie (Don) Williams; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, lovingly called her “partners in crime”.
A prayer service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at Rhiel Funeral Home, 12th Avenue East, Durand, Wis. Rev. Fred Schultz will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Durand, at a later date. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. A celebration of Nanny’s life will be held at a later date in West Salem. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, (Jostad Chapel), West Salem, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent at www.rhielfuneralhome.com or jandtfredrickson.com.