Judith Ann Smith

Judith was born to the late Edmund Kuehne and Vera (Raatz) Kuehne on October 29, 1940 in Bruce Township, Todd County, Minnesota. Judith graduated from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, California in 1958. Her mother worked at Norton Air Force Base and cooked home cooked meals for local Airmen. It was one of these Sunday dinners that Judy met Airman George G. Smith. They were married in Redlands, California in September 1958. They lived together in various states until they settled in Illinois, then Minnesota, and finally Colorado. Judy wanted to be near the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Judy worked various jobs, including doing keypunch at United Parcel Service, until their first child, Jacqueline, was born in 1968. She had her son, David, in 1970 and another daughter, Melanie, in 1971. She then spent most of her time raising her children and caring for the household.

Judy loved books and was an avid reader all her life. She volunteered at the Longmont Hospital Library and the Heather Gardens Library for many years. She was also on the library board in Elburn, Illinois. She maintained a love of learning her entire life. This tied in closely to her interest in family genealogy research. Judy researched and wrote a Smith family book tracing back to 1753 and also a Kuehne family book tracing back to 1755. Judy was an explorer at heart and loved to travel. She visited Germany, Panama, and Kenya, as well as places in the US like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Williamsburg, Virginia. Her main source of joy was having her family including her children and grandchildren around her.

Judy is survived by her loving children; Jacqueline (Jared Steinberg) Sene of Denver, CO; David (Jenna) Smith of Centennial, CO; and Melanie Smith Nichols of Fort Collins, CO; and welcomed in daughter, Khadyja (Kwame) Johnson of Commerce City; one ex son-in-law, Alassane (Rewa) Sene of Denver, CO; as well as six grandchildren; Omar, Sophie, Grace, Stella, Emma, and Tijan. She is also survived by her brother, Richard (Chris) Kuehne and a sister, Barbara Anderson and many cousins, nieces, and nephews scattered all over.

Flowers may be sent to the funeral home listed below. If you wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or any library organization of your choosing.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 1 at Olinger Funeral Home, 8600 East Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO 80231 303-771-4636 olingerhampdencemetary.com with a reception following the memorial.