Sylvia C. Waite

Sylvia C. Waite was born in Chicago, IL on January 13, 1928 and joined the Lord and her Angels in Heaven on November 3, 2024 in Gothenburg, NE.

Sylvia grew up with her brother Johnny, sisters Florence, Evelyn, Emily, Francis and her father John and mother Pearl. After graduating High School, she started her career with the Bell Telephone Company. Around 1953, she and Emily moved to San Diego, CA where she developed a love for the California sun and the ocean. She also fell in love with a handsome sailor with a great smile named Dallas. They were married on March 12, 1955. In January 1956 they welcomed their first daughter, Cheryl Ann. Dad was discharged 6 weeks later and they left California for Dad’s hometown of Pilger, NE. They eventually moved to Omaha, where in December of 1959 they welcomed Kathleen Ann. In October of 1961 came daughter number three; Sandra Lea. Mom continued her work with the phone company while keeping a happy home. She was always there for us, sewing costumes, clothes, practicing her inner beautician by giving us haircuts, supporting our school and church activities. Mom and Dad made sure we spent plenty of time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Pilger where all our cousins joined us. We were blessed to have such a wonderful childhood!

In 1968 we made the move to Plattsmouth. We girls finished school and moved on with our lives. Dad and Mom continued living in Plattsmouth, making lots of good friends. They were always going to Nebraska football games with the Red Vesters, traveling near and far. Mom retired from Northwestern Bell in 1982 after 30 years. Not one to sit around, she became the activities director at Plattsmouth Manor, which she really enjoyed. Then in 1980 came their first grandchild Sarah, followed by Nathan in 1983. You couldn’t have asked for better grandparents!

They started making fishing trips out to Gothenburg, and finally decided to just move out there. Mom went to work for South Central in Cozad and Dad kept busy with various jobs. They hosted many fish fries, cooking all the catfish they had caught. Summers were always spent with Sarah and Nathan, which kept Mom and Dad on their toes! Mom was the perfect hostess, providing snacks and treats for everyone who dropped by to visit.

Dad passed away in 2011, and Mom remained at the house. When she broke her hip in 2018, she moved into an apartment at Crestview. She remained there until her passing.

Mother was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Dallas, daughter Kathleen Waite, granddaughter Sarah Smith, great grandsons Joshua and Skylar Smith, special pets Mitzi and Buddy.

She is survived by daughter Cheryl (Buck)Haller, Polson, MT; daughter Sandra Smith, Gothenburg, NE; grandson Nathan (Andi) Smith, Sierra Vista, AZ; great-grandsons Nathan Smith and Riley Smith, great-great-grandson Jaxson Smith, several nieces and nephews, and her “adopted daughter” Janet Wallman , Lincoln, NE.

Memorial Services will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm with Pastor Robert Litzenberger officiating. 

Burial will follow at 2:00 pm in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska.

Memorials to Gothenburg Fire, Gothenburg Senior Center and Central Plains Home Health and Hospice.

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