Smith, Leo Joy (1921-2016)

SMITH, CAMPBELL, BITTINGER, JOHNSON, CROTTY, DEFFER, DURBIN, MUMMA, SEHESTEDT, MESSENGER, MILLER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/12/2016 at 19:47:39

Leo Joy Smith
July 6, 1921 - September 14, 2016

Leo Joy Smith, age 95, of Spencer, Iowa, and formerly of Webb, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Home in Spencer.

Leo “Joy” Smith, the fifth of eight children, was born on July 6, 1921, in Royal, Iowa, to Aubrey Clifton and Sadie Belle (Campbell) Smith. He attended school in Sioux Rapids and Webb but graduated from high school in Wheatland, Indiana.

In 1942, Joy joined the United States Coast Guard and served under the Department of the Navy in the Pacific theater during World War II. He participated in the Battle for Okinawa. Having learned to cook on board the ship, Joy took great pride in rising to the position of sous-chef (second in command) during his time in the service. When the ship docked in port, he would volunteer at local restaurants to learn about different foods and their preparation. Of all the ports where his ship docked, he, really, liked San Francisco. He was honorably discharged on February 20, 1946.

In 1947, Joy married Esther Arlene Bittinger in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. To their union, four children were born: Merry Margaret, Timothy Joy, Theodore Hans, and Gaye Elizabeth. Joy began farming with Esther’s father and continued farming for many years. Esther and their son, Theodore, passed away in 1957.

In 1959, Joy married Joyce Ilene Johnson in St. Paul, Minnesota. To this union, Leo Brett and Matthew Lane were born. Now as a family of seven, they enjoyed school sporting events and programs, fishing, and summers at Lost Island Lake.

During his lifetime, Joy worked at various jobs including his first love, farming. He also enjoyed running a hone at Medford’s in Laurens, owning the Smith Oil Company tank wagon service, and driving school bus for South Clay Community School District. In his later years, he enjoyed helping his son, Tim, on the farm and driving truck for Rohlin Construction.

Always available for sharing a conversation and reminiscing, Joy enjoyed spending time with family and friends. After retiring, he liked driving throughout Clay County to check on the fields and stopping by to see what his children were up to for the day. He made his family his pride and joy.

Joy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Esther, and son, Teddy; his granddaughter, Janelle Crotty; his sister, Gladys Miller; and his brothers, Wade, Clifton, and Omar.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Merry (Mike) Crotty, of Havelock, Iowa, Tim (Rita) Smith, of Webb, Iowa, Gaye Smith, of Los Angeles, California, Brett (Mary Jo) Smith, of Dickens, Iowa, and Matthew Smith, of Denver, Colorado; eleven grandchildren: Jerry (Shirley) and John (Julie) Crotty; Madella (Christopher) Deffer; Holly (Daniel) Durbin; Carrie Mumma; Lee Sehestedt; and Adam (Lora), Andrew, Nicholas (Angie), Ryan (Ashley), and Tim (Erin) Smith; twenty-one great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; his brother, Kenneth Smith, of Greenburg, Indiana; his sisters, Margaret (Lee) Messenger, of Windsor Heights, Iowa, and Glenna Jane (Francis) Miller, of Rockford, Illinois; and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith, of Bancroft, Iowa; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. He will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 18, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at the First United Church of Sioux Rapids where Joy had been a lifelong member. Burial will be in the Northlawn Memorial Cemetery in Spencer with full military rites by the Sioux Rapids American Legion Post #394. Visitation will take place Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. before the service at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Sliefert Funeral Homes

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