Donald Smith

    Donald “Donnie” Smith, 80, of Meservey, Iowa passed away Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the First Reformed Church in Meservey with the Rev. Rodney Meester presiding. Interment will be at Meservey Cemetery with full veteran’s honors by William J. Schmale Post #171 American Legion, Meservey. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or the Meservey American Legion in Donnie’s

memory.
    Donald Smith was born Dec. 26, 1930 in Ventura, Iowa, a son of Clyde and Grace (Groen) Smith. He attended school in Ventura as his family farmed in the Clear Lake and Ventura area.
    Donnie was united in marriage with Rakel Sand in Nannestad, Norway on April 12, 1958. They were blessed with three daughters.
    Donnie entered the United States Air Force and worked as a mechanic in the motor pools and was stationed in Norway, England and in the United States. He retired in 1971 as a Master Sergeant.
    After retiring from the Air Force, Donnie and his family moved to Meservey where he worked for the city, retiring in the mid-1980’s.
    He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Meservey, the American Legion, and served on the Meservey Fire Department for 18 years. Donnie was very friendly and would talk with anyone he met. He loved to fish and had many memorable family fishing trips to Canada. Most of all, Donnie loved and admired his daughters and three grandsons. He loved spending time with them and was looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandson expected in December.
    Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Elsie (Tim) Patrick, Post Falls, Idaho; Shirley Kaduce, Meservey; Mary (Dave) Smit, Sheffield; grandsons, Christopher Kaduce, Derek and Ryan Smit; sister, Vivian (Kim) McCraken; brothers, Kenneth (Grace) Smith; Virgil Smith; Russell (Bobbie) Smith; Michael ‘Mickey’ (Betty) Smith; aunt, Frances Groen, Clear Lake; best friend and former wife, Rakel Smith; and several nieces and nephews.
    Donald is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Frances Rabe; brother-in-law, Barry Rabe; and sister-in-law, Myrnot Smith.
    Retz Funeral Home, Sheffield, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.