Obituary: Marianne J. Smith

Marianne J. Smith, 86, of Ellison Bay, died March 11, 2017 at Scandia Village Nursing Home in Sister Bay.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 2 pm at Hafemeister Funeral Home in Watertown with Rev. Kenneth Ewerdt officiating. The family requests that memorials be made to Scandia Village Nursing Home in Sister Bay, Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay and Alpha Life Center in Watertown. A Memorial Service will be held at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay at a later date. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.

Marianne Jane Kollath was born on June 3, 1930 in Watertown, the daughter of August and Clara (nee Buske) Kollath. She became a child of God in July of 1930 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Her confirmation in faith took place on April 2, 1944 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Watertown. She married Lester Schmidt on June 3, 1952 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Watertown. Lester preceded her in death on February 13, 1988. God chose another life partner for her in Russell Smith. They were married on October 29, 1988 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ixonia.

Marianne was one of the first waitresses at Zwieg’s Grill in Watertown. Later she became a secretary at Eaton Corp. in Watertown. She also had many volunteer opportunities. She helped both her churches in Watertown and Ellison Bay by teaching Sunday school and quilting for children’s missions. Marianne also volunteered for many years at Bethesda Lutheran Homes in Watertown. Her love of flowers and gardening was well noted by those in Watertown and Ellison Bay. All who knew her considered her a “master gardener”. She also was a talented seamstress and quilter, fixing many a wedding gown and creating lovely church banners and quilts.

She is survived by her husband, Russell Smith; children, Mark (Debra) Schmidt; Corby (Lori) Schmidt; step-children, Mark Smith; Rebecca (Dennis) Manke; Paul (Kerri) Smith; seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; sisters, Carol Timmel and Helen (Al) Labelle as well as nieces, nephews and many dear friends.