Clara P Smolik

Mass of Christian Burial for Clara P. Smolik will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma, Nebraska with Father Maurice Current officiating. Interment will follow at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Alma.

Clara Pauline Smolik, 100 years and 7 months of age, of Alma, passed away on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Clara was born in Burwell, Nebraska on February 21, 1923, the fourth of nine children, born to Robert and Josephine (Williams) Olson. Clara was baptized as a young child at the First Methodist Church in Burwell and confirmed at the Catholic Church in Sargent, Nebraska in 1943. She received her primary education from rural school district # 16 at Burwell and later attended and graduated from Taylor High School, with the class of 1940.

On July 20, 1944, she was united in marriage to Emanuel "Smokey" Smolik while stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base in Amarillo, Texas. To this union four sons were born: Harold Lee, Glenn Trent, Paul James, and Mark Robert. After being discharged from the Air Force, Emanuel and Clara made their home on a farm near Ord, Nebraska until moving to Alma in August of 1963. Emanuel and Clara, and their sons: Harold, Paul, and Mark also owned and operated the Patterson Harbor Concession at Harlan County Reservoir from 1973 until 1996.

Clara enjoyed gardening, reading and pie making, nobody's pie crust was as good as Clara's!  She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma where she was active with the Alter Society.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, a son, Harold; four sisters: Martha Alder & her husband Delbert, Mable Miller and her husband Dale; Elsie Olson; Berniece Wallin and her husband Tommy; three brothers: Raymond Olson and wife Audrey; Carl Olson and wife Alice Ann; and Ralph Olson.

Clara leaves to celebrate her life; her three sons: Glenn Trent Smolik of Webster, Texas; Paul Smolik and his wife, Karen of Kearney; and Mark Smolik and his special friend, Pam Robinson of rural Alma; daughter-in-law, Jany Smolik of Newport Beach, California; six grandchildren; Annette Templeton and husband Tim; Anton Smolik and wife Debbie; Tessa Deyle & husband Derek; TJ Smolik and special friend Courtney; Justin Smolik and wife Nancy; and Ashley Smolik; six great-grandchildren; Emma, Ehren, Elana, Alex, Gabbi, and Aiden Smolik;  one sister Helen Wilson of Blair; and one sister-in-law, Janice Olson of Lincoln, Nebraska; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma with the Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Clara's honor, and kindly suggested to the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.