Rhonda Sue Smith

Rhonda Sue Smith of DeForest, WI went to heaven on 1/21/2011. She passed while at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Center in Fitchburg. She was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on 10/28/2010. Her cancer was extremely aggressive and unresponsive to chemotherapy. Rhonda never smoked and did not work or live in areas with second hand smoke, and she wanted people to know that lung cancer is not only a smoker's disease. Funding for lung cancer research is not allocated at the appropriate levels.

 

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie on Saturday Jan. 29, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. Friends are invited to call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 12:00 and after the service until 2:00 p.m. to reminisce and talk with others about the joy Rhonda brought to their lives. Family and good friends are invited to attend a meal at The Cannery Grill, 315 E. Linnerud Dr., Sun Prairie at 2:30.

 

Rhonda was born on 11/20/1965 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI. She attended Sun Prairie Schools for her K-12 education, and then went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education on May 15, 1988. She obtained her Master of Arts in Teaching from Aurora University on March 13, 1999.

 

While student teaching at Sun Prairie High School in January 1988 Rhonda met her future husband Stuart. Rhonda's cooperating teacher and his supervising teacher made sure the two crossed paths frequently. Stuart proposed to Rhonda shortly after meeting her in the early spring of 1988. The two were married on October 15, 1988.

 

Rhonda taught Special Education classes in Lake Mills from 1988-1992. In August 1992 she was hired to teach at Eastside Elementary in the Sun Prairie School District, and she stayed in that position until 2005. In August 2005 she took a Program Manager position with the school district and worked at Westside, CH Bird and Creekside Elementary Schools. Not only was she a leader, mediator and advocate in her position, she was also an expert on dealing with problematic student behaviors. Her passion was helping students overcome their difficulties and disabilities. Rhonda treated every student, parent and school staff member like family. She made herself available at any hour of the day so she could make sure her co-workers had whatever they needed. She always had chocolate to help make a bad day better. Rhonda was quick to give co-workers and others a note or card to offer guidance or solace. She brought amazing, positive changes to the school district and her compassion and joy touched countless employees, parents and students.

 

She enjoyed traveling with Stuart and Vilas County was an annually favored location. In July 2008 a trip to Alaska amazed them with the beauty of God's creation. They also traveled to Jamaica several times. New Orleans became a favored destination the last 3 years. Rhonda loved eating at fine restaurants and enjoyed the freedom offered in the French Quarter. The two traveled to Maine in the summer of 2010 for a week where they enjoyed fresh seafood and near complete solitude in an oceanside cottage.

Rhonda enjoyed giving her love to dogs. She is playing with Buddie Sue and Mandy Mae now, and someday Kodah Bear will also get to play fetch with her again.

She was a world class shopper and an impeccable dresser. Everything coordinated from her head to her toes.

 

Rhonda was preceded in death by her grandmother Anna Noyce, grandfather Raymond Noyce and her maternal grandfather Kenneth Sumwalt. Rhonda is survived by her devoted husband Stuart, her parents Ron and Shirley Noyce of Sun Prairie, her brother and sister in law David and Kati Noyce of New Glarus and their children Gabriel, Samuel and Hanna, her maternal grandmother Letha (Marguerite) Sumwalt, , her mother and father in law Bernadine and Cecil Smith, a sister in law Stephanie Smith, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She also leaves behind an unbelievable number of friends.

 

Gifts to the newly established Rhonda Sue Smith Scholarship fund through the Sun Prairie Area School District would be appreciated in lieu of flowers or other gifts. No gifts of food may be brought to The Cannery after the service.

 

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

1310 Emerald Terrace

Sun Prairie, WI

www.cressfuneralservice.com