Richard E. Smith

SMITH, CIESIELSKI, BOIES, BELLENDIER, SORG, WION, WRAGE, LOFSTUEN

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 1/2/2009 at 13:58:53

Richard E. Smith, 79, of Independence, Iowa died Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa following a long illness.

Richard was born on February 11, 1929 in Independence, Iowa the son of Glen A. and Anna F. (Ciesielski) Smith. He attended the Buchanan County Rural Schools, and served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. On January 13, 1962 he was married to Dorothy M. Boies in Independence, IA. Richard was employed with the John Deere Company in Waterloo, Iowa for 24 years prior to his retirement in 1990.

Richard loved his family, and enjoyed watching and attending sporting events espically the Independence Girls Softball Team. He was an avid outdoorsman.

He was a member of the U.A.W., the Bechter -Boies V.F.W. Post and the Sheehan-Tidball American Legion Post.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy, Independence, two daughters; Diane Bellendier and Angie Sorg of Independence, IA., and a son Mike Smith of Grinnell, IA., seven grandchildren and one great grandchild., and two sisters; Geraldine Wion, Tuscon, AZ., and Judith Wrage, Waterloo, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; Francis, LaVern, and Albert Smith, and a sister; Arlene Lofstuen.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, St. John’s Catholic Church, Independence with Rev. Don Plamondon officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence. Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. Sunday and from 3 to 8 P.M. Monday at the Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence where a Military Memorial Service will be held at 7 P.M. Sunday, a rosary will be recited at 3 P.M. Monday, and a parish vigil service will be held at 7 P.M. Monday evening.