1917
Beulah
2014
Beulah Arlene Smolek
October 7, 1917 — January 10, 2014
Beulah Arlene Smolek was a force to be reckoned with in this life, she was of the "old school" and faithfully devoted her time to being an advocate for others. At the age of 96, Beulah went to be with our Lord Friday, January 10, 2014 from Provena St. Joseph Center Nursing Home, Freeport, Illinois.
Beulah was born on the family farm in York Township near Thomson, Illinois, October 7, 1917, the daughter of Harry Norwood and Lottie (Quick) Gaar. Beulah was the last surviving graduate of the Class of 1935 Thomson High School. Beulah became a Registered Nurse, graduating from Jane Lamb Memorial Hospital Nursing School. On November 29, 1941, Beulah married John Smolek at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. They celebrated sixty-four years of marriage. John passed away September 13, 2006.
Beulah was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Catholic Women of St. John, along with a past member of the Northwestern Illinois Nurses Association and Catholic Daughters of America. She volunteered with American Red Cross, Savanna Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels and Big Meadows Nursing Home. Earlier in life she worked at the Savanna City Hospital along with other area hospitals. Beulah acted as an advocate for many, helping them overcome challenges in life.
She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Joyce (Ed) Martin of Freeport; four grandchildren, Christopher Smolek, Thad Martin, Kelly (Charles) Feaver and Shannon Martin; two great granddaughters, Poppy and Violet "Lottie" Feaver; three brothers,H. Delbert Gaar of Thornton, Colorado, Merle Gaar of Cedar Hill, Texas and Darrell Gaar of Oswego, Illinois; one sister, Letha Murney of Polo, Illinois; and a daughter-in-law, Vicky (Mike) Kramer of Clinton, Iowa. Beulah is preceded in death by her husband, John; a son, James Smolek; three brothers, Vaughn, Paul and Donald; one sister, Dorothy Miller and both parents.
A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna with Father Dennis Atto as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna with a Rosary Service held at 2:30 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
Beulah was born on the family farm in York Township near Thomson, Illinois, October 7, 1917, the daughter of Harry Norwood and Lottie (Quick) Gaar. Beulah was the last surviving graduate of the Class of 1935 Thomson High School. Beulah became a Registered Nurse, graduating from Jane Lamb Memorial Hospital Nursing School. On November 29, 1941, Beulah married John Smolek at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. They celebrated sixty-four years of marriage. John passed away September 13, 2006.
Beulah was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Catholic Women of St. John, along with a past member of the Northwestern Illinois Nurses Association and Catholic Daughters of America. She volunteered with American Red Cross, Savanna Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels and Big Meadows Nursing Home. Earlier in life she worked at the Savanna City Hospital along with other area hospitals. Beulah acted as an advocate for many, helping them overcome challenges in life.
She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Joyce (Ed) Martin of Freeport; four grandchildren, Christopher Smolek, Thad Martin, Kelly (Charles) Feaver and Shannon Martin; two great granddaughters, Poppy and Violet "Lottie" Feaver; three brothers,H. Delbert Gaar of Thornton, Colorado, Merle Gaar of Cedar Hill, Texas and Darrell Gaar of Oswego, Illinois; one sister, Letha Murney of Polo, Illinois; and a daughter-in-law, Vicky (Mike) Kramer of Clinton, Iowa. Beulah is preceded in death by her husband, John; a son, James Smolek; three brothers, Vaughn, Paul and Donald; one sister, Dorothy Miller and both parents.
A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna with Father Dennis Atto as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna with a Rosary Service held at 2:30 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Beulah Arlene Smolek, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors