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Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith

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Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith

Birth	:	19 Aug 1934 Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	6 Apr 2020 Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Columbus Cemetery, Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.4267883, -97.3406677
Description	:	Virginia Lee (Van Berg) Smith died peacefully at home in Columbus, Nebraska on Monday, April 6, 2020 after a long illness. She was born in Columbus on August 19, 1934 to M. H. and Viola (Schwartz) Van Berg, the eighth of nine children. She graduated from Kramer High School in 1952 and attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Dwayne G. Smith, two children, Rachel Perkins and Jason Smith, both of Denver Colorado, and one grandchild, Leah Perkins, also of Denver. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son,... Read More	Virginia Lee (Van Berg) Smith died peacefully at home in Columbus, Nebraska on Monday, April 6, 2020 after a long illness. She was born in Columbus on August 19, 1934 to M. H. and Viola (Schwartz) Van Berg, the eighth of nine children. She graduated from Kramer High School in 1952 and attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Dwayne G. Smith, two children, Rachel Perkins and Jason Smith, both of Denver Colorado, and one grandchild, Leah Perkins, also of Denver. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Philip Smith, one son in law, Edwin Perkins, and her eight siblings. In addition to raising three children, Virginia worked outside the home most of her adult life. In the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, she worked at the Columbus Sales Pavilion, founded and owned by her father. In the 80’s and 90’s she managed the office of her younger brother, John C. (Jack) Van Berg, a Hall of Fame thoroughbred race horse trainer. In the late 90’s, after the death of her older son, Virginia dedicated herself to community service. She founded and served as the president of the Pawnee Park Foundation in Columbus, which spearheaded a major renovation of the beloved park, including the replacement of the park’s playground equipment and installation of the park’s bike and running paths. Over the course of her leadership of the Foundation, it raised more than $250,000 to improve the park. For her community work she received the Columbus Sertoma Service to Mankind Award in 2000 and the Citizen Volunteer Award from the City of Columbus in 2013. Virginia was a long-term member of the Federated Church, and she belonged to its Circle prayer and discussion group. Virginia and her husband were born one day apart at St. Mary’s Hospital in Columbus, and they liked to joke it was love at first sight. It was August during the Dust Bowl years well before air-conditioning. Virginia’s mother Viola Van Berg was in a warm room on the south side of the building. Dwayne Smith’s mother, Luella, was in a room on the cooler north side. The two women knew each other, and Luella invited Viola to sit with her in the cooler room the day before the two children were born. Thus Virginia and Dwayne knew each other their entire lives. They started dating in high school and were married in Los Angeles, California in 1953 while Dwayne served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Aside from a few years in San Diego and Lincoln, Nebraska, Virginia lived most of her life in Columbus. She was profiled in a Lincoln (NE) Journal-Star column in 2000 for her work with the Pawnee Park Foundation, “Columbus Park Group has Dynamo Leading from Front.” “The woman with gray hair, smiling eyes, and get-to-the-point personality,” columnist Joe Duggan wrote, “is the good-humored Ma Barker of the Pawnee Park Foundation….in the midst of a 65-year love affair with Columbus.” McKown Funeral Home is handling the funeral and burial arrangements. In light of COVID-19 health precautions, a memorial gathering to honor Virginia will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Federated Church, the Center for Survivors, Paws and Claws (all in Columbus, Nebraska), or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith's memorial?
Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith's memorial is located at: Columbus Cemetery, Columbus, Platte County, USA.
When did Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith death?
Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith death on 6 Apr 2020 in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Virginia Lee Van Berg Smith's memorial?
Latitude: 41.4267883
Longitude: -97.3406677

Family Members:

Parent

Marion Harold Van Berg

(1896 - 1971)

Viola Martha Swartz Van Berg

(1899 - 1969)

Siblings

Eleanor Marie Van Berg Loshbaugh

(1918 - 1989)

Helen Ann Van Berg Smith

(1920 - 2015)

Betty R. Van Berg Scholz

(1925 - 2012)

Wilma Joy Van Berg Marquardt

(1927 - 1997)

Children

Philip Justin Smith

(1959 - 1992)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Columbus Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4267883, -97.3406677

2. Saint Bonaventure Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4301630, -97.3406640

3. All Saints Catholic Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4346800, -97.3331200

4. Roselawn Memorial Park
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4371986, -97.3317032

5. Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4362000, -97.3551500

6. Old Saint Joseph Cemetery
Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3738800, -97.3519300

7. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3508800, -97.3407100

8. Richland Cemetery
Richland, Colfax County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4599991, -97.2138977

9. Calvary Cemetery
Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5106010, -97.2624969

10. Bellwood Cemetery
Bellwood, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3450012, -97.2549973

11. Saint Patricks Cemetery
Platte Center, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5032997, -97.4452972

12. Jackson Cemetery
Duncan, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3946991, -97.4822006

13. Pleasant View Cemetery
Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3093987, -97.3118973

14. Saint Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery
Duncan, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3926000, -97.4962000

15. Christ Lutheran Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5544000, -97.2825000

16. Shell Creek Baptist Cemetery
Platte Center, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5692000, -97.3887000

17. Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
Columbus, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5728200, -97.3062500

18. Catholic Cemetery of Presentation Church and Saint
Bellwood, Butler County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3369000, -97.1683000

19. Saint Mary Cemetery
Osceola, Polk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3233580, -97.5124280

20. Saint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery
Polk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3427940, -97.5421140

21. Saint Andrews Catholic Church Cemetery #1
Osceola, Polk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2923500, -97.4891000

22. Streeter Cemetery
Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5988998, -97.4085999

23. Gruetli Cemetery
Monroe, Platte County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4290000, -97.5810000

24. Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery #2
Osceola, Polk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2787000, -97.4822000