SMITH, Warren C. 1925-2003

SMITH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/9/2009 at 12:28:52

ROCKFORD, IOWA — Warren C. Smith 78, of 24184 210th St., Rockford, died Wednesday evening (April 16, 2003) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church, 507 First Ave. N.W. in Rockford, with the Rev. Craig Steimel officiating.

Visitation will be from 3:30 until 8 p.m. today, Good Friday, at the church, with a rosary at 5 p.m. followed by a parish wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford with full military honors conducted by the Graper Walker American Legion of Rockford.

Warren was born on Feb. 12, 1925, at Randall, Iowa, one of three children to Arthur Darwin and Cora Mae “Moe” Smith. He received his education in the Ventura area.

During World War II, Warren honorably served his country with the Combat Engineers in the Army. He entered the service on Dec. 7, 1944, at Fort Snelling and was discharged from Fort Sheridan in Illinois.

During his service, he served in the South Philippines as a truck driver and sharpshooter. He received the Asiatic Theater Ribbon, Bronze Battle Star, Liberation Ribbon and the Good Conduct medals.

Following his service, he farmed with his brother in the Rockford area. He was a very hard worker and built a successful farming operation, and one of his greatest joys was that his sons continued working the farm.

Farmers find it hard to retire but he did in 1982 for the most part. He did continue helping in the busy seasons and most recently with moving equipment from farm to farm.

Almost every day or even twice a day, he could be found driving from field to field to check the boys and see how the crops were doing.

He also was active with the American Legion in Rockford, Holy Name Catholic Church, golfing at the country club, and fishing in Canada or Minnesota.

In his younger years, he danced at the Surf, where he met his first wife, Mary JoAnn Bielefeld. They were united in marriage on June 10, 1950, at Cartersville, Iowa. To this union were born five children.

He enjoyed bowling, visiting with his family and neighbors, and tending to his livestock, which included the normal assortment of cows, pigs, turkeys and chickens.

His children were amazed at how well he danced and roller-skated, even though he did not do it often.

Following his wife’s death in November of 1989, he met his future wife, Lucille A. Fritz, while enjoying his winters in Florida. They were married in Rockford on Sept. 17, 1994, and have lived there ever since.

Those who appreciated and participated in Warren’s life include his wife, Lucille, of Rockford; one daughter, Jean and her husband Duane Forbes, of West Liberty; three sons, Darwin and Mary Smith and Kevin and Kathy Smith, all of Rockford, and Brian and Lori Smith, of Byron, Ill.; his brother, James A. and Lynnea Smith, of Mason City; two step-daughters, Cheryl and Ted Lupino, of Pembine, Wis., and Jody and Bruce Hensley, of St. Peters, Mo.; four step-sons, Terry and Debbie Fritz, of St. Charles, Mo.; James and Jean Fritz, of Sun Prairie, Wis.; William and Rose Anne Fritz, of Pickerington, Ohio, and Jay and Cheryl Fritz, of St. Charles, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Warren was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Russell Pitkin; his first wife; one sister, Buenetta Kroeze; and one daughter at the infant age of 3 months, Coralin Smith.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 822-3191.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]