Tracee Louise Smith

TRACEE LOUISE SMITH 1980 – 2023 Tracee Louise Smith of Union, NE was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, and friend. She passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at the age of 43 in the arms of her mother, Cathy, almost three years after her initial cancer diagnosis. She was born to Catherine “Cathy” Marie (Gochenour) Smith on June 2, 1980 in Papillion, NE. When Tracee was 8 years old her father Jerome “Jerry” Smith married Cathy and adopted Tracee. The three of them lived on a farm outside of Union, NE and about a year later, Tracee became a big sister to a baby boy named Nicholas Jerome Smith. As the years went on she became the older sister to a baby girl named Jennifer Diana Smith and not long after another baby girl named Emilee Catherine Smith. Tracee attended Saint Johns School in Plattsmouth, NE until she was in the 2nd grade where she then attended Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, NE. Tracee graduated from Lourdes Central Catholic in 1998. After graduating, Tracee lived in Nebraska City when she married Troy D. Lamkins on December 23, 1999. Tracee became the step mother to a little boy named Kayleb Joseph Lamkins. Tracee and Troy were blessed with their first child together, Tory Danielle Lamkins on June 27, 2000. Two years later, they welcomed a son, Trey Michael James Lamkins on October 10, 2002. This union between Tracee and Troy ended in divorce but in recent years they were able to be friends once again. As a single mother, Tracee moved herself and her two children to Weeping Water, NE. There these three were blessed by an amazing community filled with lifelong friends. Tracee’s grandmother, Glenda Lee Fisher also lived in Weeping Water at the time. Over the years, Tracee worked as a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA) at the Hillcrest nursing home and eventually, the Louisville Care Center. She also spent many years working for multiple local businesses in the area. While living in Weeping Water, Tracee met Dustin Hauschild and on August 13, 2009, they were blessed with a baby girl named Trystin Lee Hauschild. Over the next few years Tracee would move her family to Avoca, NE and eventually in the summer of 2013 she moved back to the family farm outside of Union, NE. While just having moved, Tracee decided to send her two oldest kids to her alma mater, Lourdes Central Catholic. Both kids feeling very blessed to have attended their mothers former school decided to transfer back to Weeping Water Public School. On May 29, 2014, the family grew when Tracee gave birth to a baby boy, Trevyn John Patrick Hauschild. On September 24, 2020 Tracee was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. This became the start of Tracee’s biggest battle. The battle of her life, faith and love for her kids. By the grace of God, Tracee fought the depths of cancer for nearly 3 years all the way up until the end… She is survived by her four children, daughter: Tory D. Lamkins (23), son: Trey M. J. Lamkins (20), daughter: Trystin L. Hauschild (14), and son: Trevyn J. P. Hauschild (9); former step-son: Kayleb J. Lamkins of Lincoln, NE; parents: Jerry and Cathy Smith of Union, NE; birth father: Rusty (Lisa) Hunter of Lake Zurich, IL; siblings: Nick (Amanda) Smith of Nebraska City, NE, Jennee (James ll) Minturn of Omaha, NE, and Emilee (Greg) Schlickau of Pratt, KS; great aunt: Rose Marie Ficklin (Gochenour) of Plattsmouth, NE; four nephews: Paxton Olson, Ashton Smith, James Minturn lll, and Levi Schlickau; four nieces: Alex Meyer, Taylor Meyer, Madison Meyer, and Ellee Louise Schlickau; and many more nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Tracee was preceded in death by her grandparents: Glenda L. Fisher, and Willard J. Gochenour, Cecil J. and Mary M. Klein, and Richard and Pat Hunter, two uncles: Patrick A. Foyt and Raymond Benck, her two aunts: Tammy Kaczmarek and Anne Louise Benck, and two cousins: Taneigha Glasgow and Jerry Jason Ficklin. A Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:30 P.M. with visitations from 3:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M., on Friday, August 18, 2023 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth. A Rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M., on Friday, August 18, 2023 at Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the Church of the Holy Spirit with Father Tony Bedient and Father Mark Pfeiffer co-officiating, Nick Halmes and Thomas Wigington as acolytes, Ryan Ebmeier as lector, Terry Little as vocalist, and Laurie Hajek-Jones as organist. Her Final Resting Place will be at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Plattsmouth. A Celebration of Life and Luncheon will be held at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Weeping Water, NE following the burial around 12:00 P.M. The family suggests Memorials to Lourdes Central Catholic High School or the Franciscan Sisters both of Nebraska City, NE. Services are entrusted to Roby Funeral Home, 346 Avenue A, Plattsmouth, NE 68048 (402) 296-3123 robyfuneralhome@charter.net www.robyfuneralhome.com

Tracee Louise Smith

June 2, 1980 - August 16, 2023