Nancy J. Smith

Nancy Smith lived a rich and rewarding life filled with the love of family. She enlightened many with her caring and kind nature having cultivated many friendships throughout the years. A hard working woman, Nancy used her time and talents for the benefit of others. When recalling her life, only the fondest of thoughts will be remembered of a woman who loved her family with ways all her own.

The year 1938 overflowed with mixed blessings in America. While the U.S made great economic strides following the hardships of the Great Depression, an unwelcome recession found unemployment rates once again reaching drastic levels. The struggles of this generation found relief from everyday worries enjoying the sounds of jazz. Superman made his debut in the comic strips, and movie greats filled the big screen. During these changing times in the rural city of Wabash, Indiana, the birth of Nancy J. Mettler on February 15, 1938, filled her parents hearts with joy. The daughter of Maurice and Esther (Circle) Mettler, Nancy grew up alongside her siblings, Tom and Carol.

Living on their small farm in Wabash offered Nancy many adventures as a young girl. She especially enjoyed spending time with her cousins in Hoagland, and by the time Nancy entered high school, her family moved from Wabash to Arcola. An outgoing girl, Nancy enjoyed the friendships of many throughout her youth. She attended Arcola High School, graduating with the Class of 1956. After high school, Nancy attended a year at International Business College for accounting. She married for a time, and while living in Churubusco, she became the loving and devoted mother to her two children, DeLaina and Tim.

For over 27 years, Nancy worked at GTE in Ft. Wayne where she made numerous, close friends. When she eventually retired in 1991, Nancy held the position of cost accountant. After retiring, she had more time to take in the things she enjoyed and spend with those she dearly loved.

It was during these years working at GTE when Nancy met the love of her life, William Smith. A good friend of Nancys worked at the post office and told her about one of their great co-workers, Bill. Although Nancy knew Bill through the American Legion in Columbia City, it wasnt until they were formally introduced that sparks flew. Quite taken with one another from the moment they met Nancy and Bill were soon head-over-heels in love. Within the next year, they were married on April 12, 1974, at the home of Rev. Kleespie in Columbia City. Bill had children of his own before becoming widowed and together they became one big combined family. With eight children between them, Nancy and Bill loved all their kids as if they were each their own. They made it a point for their children to know each other as their ages ranged from young to being newly married.

Family was Nancy and Bills top priority and together they made a loving home for their children. They moved to the Big Lake area following their marriage and since 1979, it has been their forever home. There they shaped their familys lives in faith as members of Eel River Baptist Church and together they enjoyed memorable holidays and other treasured times. As a family, they enjoyed camping and they were insistent that their children go with them, no matter their age. It always proved to be a fun-filled time as they packed their camper trailer to the brim. Along with their pull behind camper, tents and truck bed camper, they were sure to bring the kids bikes and off they went for weekends. Sometimes they traveled outside the area camping, but Jellystone Park Campgrounds were always their favorite place to go. As a family, they also loved fishing and mushroom hunting up north in Michigan.

A wonderful cook, Nancy also enjoyed baking, making candy, and canning vegetables from her garden. Her delicious roasts with potatoes and carrots will be missed along with her with her lasagna and of course her scrumptious, homemade candy. Even though Nancy made the best candy, her favorite included Three Musketeer candy bars and she was even talking about them in the hospital over the past few days before she passed! Nancy was quite talented in many respects. She helped her brother, Butch by hand-sanding woodcrafts for him and through the years she enjoyed sewing, having made beautiful baby blankets for nearly all of her grandchildren. Nancy was always gracious with her time and talents. She loved caring for others, and she loved her grandchildren immensely. She didnt know how to swim and on the farm, they had a pond. She was always concerned when the grandchildren and others were out there that something bad was going to happen and shed be helpless. Nancy also enjoyed watching the birds and sitting on her swing under her apple tree.

She was also a member of the Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter in Columbia City, having held many positions including past president. She and Bill, along with a few other couples, were the founders of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 4717 in Wolf Lake and was a member of their Ladies Auxiliary. In addition to her many interests, Nancy enjoyed traveling with friends. She took a week each year traveling with them across the U.S. for over 20 years before Bill became ill around 2009. Nancy tenderly and lovingly cared for Bill until her life was forever changed on November 11, 2012, when the love of her life passed away. Following Bills death, life simply wasnt the same for Nancy. She placed all her efforts into her unending love of family, and she continued on the best she could.

For Nancy, life and living were about family. They were her greatest joy, and seeing them content and happy was her ultimate desire. Her life was enriched in countless way, and with them by her side, she was at her best. Ever nurturing, her kind and caring nature were evident to all who came to know and love her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Nancy J. Smith, 78, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Survivors include her children, DeLaina Cole of Columbia City, Tonya (Bob) McKay of Rochester, Vicky (Mike) Tallent of Maryville, Tennessee, Tammy (Steve) Parkison of Crown Point, Deb (Jeff) Zickafoose of Albion, Doug Smith of Columbia City, and Dave (Kate) Lotter of Churubusco; brother, Tom Butch (Cindy) Mettler of Columbia City; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill Smith; son, Tim Wagner; sister, Carol Lehman; grandsons, Jonathan Zickafoose, Clint Collier, and infant grandson, Christopher Parkison.

Visitation is Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 2-3:45 and 6-7:45 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a service performed by the VFW Wolf Lake Ladies Auxiliary at 4:00 p.m. and a sorority service performed by Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter at 8:00 p.m. Her funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the funeral home with Certified Funeral Celebrant Sharon Brockhaus officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Thorn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter in Columbia City or to the Wolf Lake VFW. To share a favorite memory or photo of Nancy, sign her online guest book and to her family an online condolence, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com .