Grace Louise (Wiles) Simard

October 23, 1919 - May 14, 2026

Age 106 years.  Interment, Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  MEMORIAL SERVICE with Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard: Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street.

To view a live broadcast of the Memorial Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the "Live Cast" button at the top of the home page.

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Grace Louise Wiles Simard was born on October 23, 1919 to Elsie Marie Gapen Wiles and Guy Henry Wiles on a farm near Murray, Nebraska. She passed away on May 14, 2026. She was the second child of 3, with an older brother Marion and a younger brother, Stephen.

Grace graduated from Plattsmouth Nebraska High school in 1936. She worked for 3 years teaching at a 1-room schoolhouse south of Plattsmouth, NE teaching grades 1-8 to earn enough money to go to college. She attended UNL from 1939 to 1941 before transferring to UNMC where she received a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1944.

Grace’s first job after graduating was Head Nurse at the Pediatric Ward at UNMC. Her title was Head Nurse of Pediatrics and Clinical Professor of Nursing. She was responsible for teaching the other nursing students how to administer medicine.

Grace attended First Presbyterian Church in Omaha, NE, where she was a part of a young adults’ group and there, she met Glen Simard in 1942. They were married on March 11, 1944.

Grace worked at Immanuel Hospital until 1965, when she was hired by Omaha Public Schools to be a visiting nurse assigned to five grade schools in Omaha. In 1967, Grace was assigned to be the school nurse at Benson High School and worked there until she retired in 1982.

Grace enjoyed playing bridge and reading. She was an avid bible reader. She also spent much of her time with grandchildren. She was able to travel to several places in the US and abroad, including The Netherlands, England, Spain and France.

Grace is survived by her three children, Bob (Connie), Tom (Mary) and Jean, her six grandchildren, Jason Simard, Kelly Simard, Jennifer Simard Solberg (Troy), Robby Simard (Janae), Emily Wall Mercier (Michael), Amy Wall Whinney (Ben), and six great-grandchildren, William Solberg, Brandon Solberg, Eli Simard, Luke Simard, Julian Mercier, and Ezra Whinney. She is also survived by her niece, Diana Wiles Capaldi of Philadelphia, nephew Stephen Wiles of El Paso Texas, nieces Becca Wiles Collins of Richwood, Texas, and Robin Wiles Harwell (Jeff) of Allen, Texas.

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Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 W. Center Rd., Omaha, NE 68124  |  402-391-3900  |  www.heafeyheafey.com.