Gary A. Smith

SMITH, ZIRTZMAN, VETTER, THOMPSON, MONOHAN, KIRKBRIDE, ERIKSON

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 1/1/2011 at 14:01:16

Gary A. Smith, 66, of Independence, Iowa died Saturday, December 25, 2010, at the West Village Care Center in Independence, Iowa.

Gary was born on August 18, 1944, in Manchester, Iowa the son of Ralph E. and Mabel V. (Zirtzman) Smith.

He graduated from the Maquoketa Valley High School, and received an Architect Drafting Certification from Hawkeye Tech, Waterloo, Iowa . He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict. He was united in marriage to Cheryl L. Vetter on April 2, 1966 in First Lutheran Church, Manchester, Iowa. The couple lived in Manchester, IA., Colorado, and Ames, Iowa prior to moving to Independence, IA. He was employed as a draftsman with Larson Construction, Independence, IA. John Deere Co., Fareway Grocery Store, Culligan Soft Water, and Smitty’s Tire & Appliance in Manchester, IA.

He is survived by his wife Cheryl Smith, Independence, A son; Allyn (Jody) Smith, Waterloo, IA., and a daughter; Shannon (Tony) Thompson, Georgia. Six grandchildren; Zachary and Samantha Monohan, Jordhan Kirkbride, Sabastian Thompson, Amanda Smith, and Nikolas Thompson. A brother; Paul Smith, Monticello, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister; Gladys Erikson.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday at the Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, IA., with Rev. Kurt Bockoven officiating.

Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 P.M. Tuesday and from 9 A.M. till services Wednesday at the funeral home.

A Military Memorial Service will be held at 7 P.M. Tuesday.