Nicole Renee Smith was born on April 23, 1972, in Omaha, to Donald Eugene and Linda Sue (Russell) Smith and passed away Dec. 31, 2020, in Lincoln, at the age of 48 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Nicole moved with the family to Texas when she was six years old and then back to Nebraska to start her sophomore year at East Butler High School. She graduated with the Class of 1990. Nicole worked for several years at Valentinos in Seward. She later worked at (Walkers) Tenneco for nearly 10 years before her health started to fail. Nicole moved back to Ulysses to be with her mom while her father was sick. In 2011, she moved to Hickman to be closer to her brother, Jeff. She loved her dogs and cats. Nicole enjoyed camping, fishing and watching her Minnesota Vikings and Nebraska Cornhuskers. She also loved collecting anything M&Ms. Nicole was always on the go until she lost her legs to diabetes, but that still didn’t slow her down much. She met her partner, Kristi Vlasak, and they shared their life together for 14 years until Kristi passed away in 2014.
She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Smith; grandparents, Donald and Melvina Smith, Lyle Russell and Joy Russell; her partner, Kristi Vlasak.
Survivors include her mother, Linda Smith, Ulysses; two brothers, Jeff Smith, Hickman, Greg and wife, April Smith of Pleasant Dale; four nieces and nephews, Zachary Smith, Beatrice, Desirae Valentine, Lincoln, Cameron Furasek, Valparaiso, Katie Smith, Pleasant Dale; three aunts, Bonnie Hemenez, Hayward, California, Norene Graham, Seward, Sharon Wadland, Ulysses; cousins and a host of friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Smith family for future designations. Condolences may be left for the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
