Obit: Smith, Emily Katherine (1977 – 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Smith, Workman, Holmgren, Goussenkova, Cushing, Flogel, Hammons

----Source: Cremation Society of Wisconsin (Altoona, Eau Claire Co., WI) 3/10/2022

Smith, Emily Katherine (19 August 1944 – 3 March 2022)

Emily Katherine Smith, 77 of Hatfield, passed away peacefully on Thursday March 3, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Emily Workman was born in Lansing, West Virginia on August 19, 1944, to Philip and Nola Thelma Workman. She was the third eldest of 7 children; three of which passed away early in childhood. After attending school in West Virginia for a few years her family then moved to Chicago, IL. Although she didn't complete high school her brother still claims she was truly a genius. There she met and married Gale Delano Holmgren on December 11, 1962. They had four daughters. Gale tragically passed in 1969. She took her girls soon after to Madison. Where she raised them with the help of her siblings until she met Raymond E Smith. Raymond and Emily were united in marriage on July 29, 1978. While living in Madison, Emily worked at Swiss Colony and was an Avon lady. Soon after their marriage Ray and Emily moved to Arena and started farming. Emily considered herself a milkmaid. They first milked goats and later moved to cows. In the late 1980’s they moved to a farm in Neillsville. There they milked cows until they decided to make the leap to bar owners and purchased the Snowball Bar in Neillsville and later renamed it 40th & Plum and now known as The Glass House. In the 30 years of owning/running the bar they made so many friends that they considered, ‘After your first drink at The Glass House, you were no longer considered just a “customer.”’ Ray and Emy moved to Hatfield but continued to run the Glass House. In 2009 after a short illness, Emy lost Ray, the love of her life.

After Emily’s health declined, with the help of Vicki, Jenny and a few loyal employees, the bar continues to serve their valued patrons. Emily loved to grow and tend to all kinds of flowers. She loved gardening until the mosquitoes were too much for her to handle. She also enjoyed watching and feeding the birds. Emily loved to sing and listen to old country music. She always looked forward to the Workman Family Picnic which has been going strong since 1964. She loved her fluffy companion Katie-9 who she lost in 2021.

Emily always enjoyed visits with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids and family members. She will be dearly missed by all.

Emily is survived by her three daughters: Virginia (Jenny) Holmgren of Neillsville, Vicki Goussenkova of Neillsville, and Veronica (Ronnie) and Joe Cushing of Pana, IL; Fifteen Grandchildren: Joshua (Andi), Amy(Brett), Laura, Karl (Jaymee), Shannon (Luke), Sarah, Justin (Aleece), Philip, Brianna (Bobby), Zach, Brittany (Justin), Hannah (John), Lucas and Joseph; and Thirty-one and two on the way Great-Grandchildren. She is further survived by her brother Claude Workman and Sister-in-Law Barb Workman and several Nieces and Nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her Parents, her Daughter Valerie Flogel, her Granddaughter Jennifer Holmgren and her Sister Bertie and Brother-In-Law Roger Hammons and Brother Noel Workman.

A Celebration of Life will be held in June. Emily wanted everyone to celebrate her Life surrounded by all of the beautiful flowers in bloom.

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