Janice M. Smith, 82, of Eau Claire, originally of Blair, Wisconsin, died on Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse. Janice was born on December 18, 1930, in Blair, Wisconsin to Lewis and Christine (Estenson) Nelson. Janice married Richard L. Smith on April 11, 1953, in Blair. She was a longtime employee of First Wisconsin Bank, now known as US Bank in Eau Claire. She was a very active member of First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and played an integral part in helping to establish an AA Program in the Eau Claire area. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who spared no expense when it came to her family. She will be dearly missed. Janice is survived by her two daughters, Rebecca (Timothy) Oldfield, of Oswego, New York, and Diane (Rodney) Hill, of Onalaska, Wisconsin; son, Bradley (Mary) Smith, of Lakeside, Montana; eight grandchildren, Cari (Andrew) Sarantapoulas, Kayla (Michael) Wesley, Jessica (Brandon) Bentley, Justin and Amanda Smith, and Jami, Katelynn and Danielle Hill; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Alice Amundson of Bloomington, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 2005; her parents; four brothers, Leonard, Melford, Vernon, and Archie Nelson; and three sisters, Evelyn Knutson, Irene Waller, and Bernice Mattison. Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2013, at First Lutheran Church with Pastors Amy J. Odgren and Lowell Halvorson officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at the church on Monday. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse for the exceptional care Janice received for the past 8 years. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Hillview Health Care Center Recreation Department, 3501 Park Lane Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601.
Service Information
Cemetery
Lakeview Cemetery
1500 Buffington Drive
Eau Claire WI 54703