Ward Smets

Edouard "Ward" Smets known as Nonkel Ward (21 November 1929 – 23 December 2022) was a Belgian puppeteer from Antwerp. He was a puppeteer for 67 years.[1][2][3]

Ward Smets
Born
Edouard Smets

(1929-11-21)21 November 1929
Seefhoek, Antwerp, Belgium
Died23 December 2022(2022-12-23) (aged 93)
Antwerp, Belgium
NationalityBelgian
Other namesNonkel Ward
Occupationpuppeteer

Biography

Smets was born in Seefhoek, Antwerp in 1929.[2] He had a brother who was 18 years older.[4] During World War II he lost both his parents.[4] He lived for four years in the "Heilig Kruis" boys' home in Zandhoven.[2][4] He worked for a while at the Landsbond der Christelijke Mutualiteiten.[4]

In the mid-1960s he performed at theatre Poesje in Antwerp.[5] In 1965 he played 26 albums of Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber at the "Kalkoense Haan" room in Antwerp.[3] Smets made the dolls himself. His wife Denise Matthys made the clothes.[2] Until a late age he gave puppet shows. When he was eigthy years old, he created eight village figures from Maria-ter-Heide on a Erfgoeddag (heritage day).[2]

Smets died at residential care campus WZC Cadiz in Antwerp on 23 December 2022, at the age of 93.[2][1]

References
  1. "In memoriam. Edouard 'Ward' Smets". demeyeruitvaart.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. "Legendarische poppenspeler Ward Smets (93) overleden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 28 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. "Nonkel Ward (90) wekte 26 albums met helden van Pom tot leven: "Welke pop Piet is en wie Bert? Dat ik het zelf niet meer weet!"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. "Oud-poppenspeler Nonkel Ward was enig weeskind in Heilig Kruis". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. SCHEPENS, Piet; VAN DE CASTEELE, Guy, "Poesje in Antwerpen", Uitgeverij Project, Antwerp, 1988.
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