Etta “Jean” Hodge, 95, of Hiawatha, died Sunday morning, May 25, 2014, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.  She previously had been a resident of Maple Heights Nursing Home in Hiawatha.
Jean was born at Genoa, Nebraska, December 28, 1918, one of eight children born to the late Charles and Minnie Speece Smith.  She grew up at Genoa and graduated high school there with the class of 1936 prior to the family moving to Shubert, NE.
Mrs. Hodge was a longtime member of the Reserve Christian Church until it closed.  Jean was dedicated to her family, liked to read, played the guitar, and made an appearance at a radio station to sing.
She married Robert H. Hodge, January 22, 1942, at Troy.  They farmed, operated a small dairy northeast of Hiawatha for many years before moving to town in the early 1970’s.  While still helping at the farm, she worked in town at Wilde Tool Company, and at Tick Tock Café.  Jean babysit her grandsons, Jeremy and Joey, late for Darcy Karn, Amy Karn, Blake Barrett, and Spencer Barrett of which she thought and treated them like grandchildren also.
She was also preceded in death by her husband Robert in 1975; her siblings:  Pat Conover, Paul Smith, Helen Barber, Charles Smith, Glen Smith, Maxine Phillips, and Dorothy Baue.
Survivors include a son Bob (Linda) Hodge of Hiawatha; a daughter Nancy Stiers, also of Hiawatha; two grandsons:  Jeremy (Jami) Hodge and their children Jacob, Justin, and Jordon, and grandson Joey Hodge.
Funeral services are planned for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 29, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha.  Pastor Jerry Boaz, of Troy, will officiate.  Interment will follow at Rulo Cemetery, Rulo, Nebraska.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Wednesday and where the family will meet from 6 until 7 that evening.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Disabled Veterans Association and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434.
A special message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com