SMITH, Clyde E. "Mr. Red" Jr. 1936-2010

SMITH, AHRENS, THEIN, KRIZ, WELCH, COOK

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 7/11/2010 at 22:03:49

[Waterloo Courier, Tuesday, February 2, 2010 ]

WATERLOO - Clyde E. "Mr. Red" Smith Jr., 73, of Waterloo, passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at Allen Hospital following a brave struggle with cancer. Red was born July 24, 1936, in Iowa City, the son of Clyde and Nettie Ahrens Smith. He received his education at Cedar Falls High School and served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956. On June 12, 1965, Clyde married Betty Ann Thein at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He worked at John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works, retiring in December 1990.

Clyde loved everyone, especially children. He taught Sunday School at Our Savior's Lutheran Church for many years. After retiring from Deere, he began his "fun career" of volunteering at Edison School as a teacher's aide, where he worked for several years. In 1993 he received a Golden Apple Club Award for his work at Edison and in 1994 he received the KCRG Show You Care Award. He loved meeting those students as adults and hearing them say "Mr. Red, do you remember me?" He enjoyed making a difference. His favorite hobbies were target shooting with his son, David, and music - from participating in music in high school to singing in the church choir for over 40 years, ending with the Christmas performance of 2009.

Clyde is preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Maynard and Eva Thein; a sister, Betty Kriz; and a brother, Lester Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; his son, David; a daughter, Irene (Todd) Welch, and their children, Hollie (Tyler Smith) Welch, Scott Welch, Michelle Welch, Melissa Welch and Andrea Welch, all of Waterloo; a sister, Mary Cook of Independence; a special nephew, Steve (Kelly) Smith of Craig, Colo.; special nieces Melody (Ray) March of Florissant, Colo., and Terri (Gary) Wunder of Quasqueton; numerous other nieces and nephews; and his beloved pets, Baby, the spoiled Boston terrier, and Jethro, the hungry cat.

Red loved his family and enjoyed participating in activities with them. He also loved music very much. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services for Clyde will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, at 11 a.m., with burial following at Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, 965 Home Plaza, Waterloo, and for an hour prior to the start of the service on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church choir fund, 420 Harwood Ave., Waterloo, IA 50701-6199.

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