Smith, Merlyn (1925-2013)
SMITH, HANKE, GALBRAITH, BURKHART, STARR
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/29/2013 at 22:03:31
Merlyn Smith
May 15, 1925 - November 15, 2013Sac City, Iowa, and formerly Newell, Iowa
Merlyn F. Smith, age 88, of Sac City, Iowa, and formerly of Newell, Iowa, died on Friday, November 15, 2013, at his residence in Sac City.
Merlyn Frederick Smith was born on May 15, 1925, the son of Edward and Bernice (Hanke) Smith, at the family home in Buena Vista County, rural Newell, Iowa. Baptized and confirmed at the Varina Methodist Church in rural Varina, he graduated from the Varina Consolidated School in 1942. Following his graduation, he remained at home to help on the family farm. In 1951, Merlyn entered the U.S. Army and proudly served his country stateside during the Korean Conflict.
On June 25, 1955, Merlyn married Ruth Ellen Galbraith at the First Presbyterian Church in Sac City, Iowa. This union was blessed with five children: Bradley, Russell, Susan, Nancy and Jack.
Following his military service and marriage, Merlyn attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. After his father became ill, however, Merlyn returned to help on the family farm, and eventually, he and Ruth established their own farming operation.
In 1977, Merlyn and Ruth moved their family to Missouri where they raised cattle, but in 1981, they returned to their Iowa farm. In the later years, Merlyn and Ruth wintered in Arizona while visiting their daughter Susan.
Merlyn loved farming and raising livestock. A member of the Northwest Hereford Association, he exhibited first Hereford cattle and later a Maine Anjou cross throughout the Midwest. His keen eye would select the best of the best as his grandchildren’s calves. He also loved music, and at one time in his life, he dreamed of becoming a big band leader. Throughout the years, Merlyn and Ruth attended the concerts of various artists. Later in life, Merlyn enjoyed meeting his extended Starr family in Nebraska. He was currently a member of the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake and the Newell American Legion.
Merlyn thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He cherished the time he spent teaching them to fish and following them in their many activities, especially their time in 4-H. After moving to town, Merlyn enjoyed watching and feeding the birds, squirrels, and deer. Well known for his quick wit and sense of humor, he enjoyed people. He could become friends with a stranger after one meeting.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of fifty-eight years, Ruth Ellen, of Sac City, Iowa; his children: Bradley (Sara) Smith, of New Virginia, Iowa, Russell Smith, of Newell, Iowa, Susan Smith, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Nancy (Daniel) Burkhart, of Oto, Iowa, and Jack (Tami) Smith, of Storm Lake, Iowa; and four grandchildren: Wesley, Brandon, and Kaitlin Burkhart and Elizabeth Smith; as well as the Starr family and other extended family members and friends.
Merlyn was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Bernice; as well as by extended family members and friends.
Visitation: 5:00-7:30 p.m., November 19, 2013, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., November 20, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: November 20, 2013, at Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa.Copyright © 2013, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes
Copyright © 2013, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes
Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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