Smith, William Hirum 1938-2014

SMITH, STEWART, THILES, FOX

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 1/12/2015 at 09:45:33

William Hirum Smith, 76, of Camanche, Iowa passed away peacefully at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa on December 13, 2014. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, at Lemke Funeral Homes - South Chapel (2610 Manufacturing Drive - just west of Clinton Lawn Cemetery). A visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Camanche, Iowa. Lemke Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
William was born March 14, 1938 in Clinton, Iowa the son of Francis Hirum and Florence (Stewart) Smith. He served in the United States Marine Corp for four years. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Thiles in April of 1960 - Dorothy recently passed in January of 2014.
William began his career working for the Clinton School system as a janitor, he moved on to become a union millwright and concluded his career with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad with 20+ years as an engineer.
William was an avid boxer, eventually becoming a Golden Gloves champion for the State of Iowa. The sport and character of boxing would never leave him, later in life he assisted with "Against the Ropes", a Del Sol boxing club in Clinton, Iowa for low income youth. He also loved his pets, especially his dog Rita. When not helping at the boxing club, he enjoyed reading, fishing, hunting and target shooting. William also enjoyed playing cards with his wife. He will be sadly missed by his family and all who knew him.
William is survived by two sons - Tony Smith of Maquoketa, IA. and Kenneth Fox of Camanche, IA.; one brother - Stewart (Della) Smith of Fulton (Little Oak), IL.; with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding William in death were his parents, his wife Dorothy, one brother - Bob and four sisters, Edith, Donna, Flo and Varina.
Honoring William's love of boxing, memorials made can be directed to the Del Sol Boxing Club here in Clinton, where he spent much of his time helping low income young athletes.