Smart, Earl Bernard (1921-1973)

SMART, KELSEY, NELSON, CAPPS, HILDRETH, SWANSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/24/2015 at 18:32:29

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, July 5, 1973

Local resident dies in Minn. lake accident

Earl Smart, 51, widely known Webster City resident, lost his life in a drowning accident which occurred Tuesday evening, July 3, at Lake Pepin, near Lake City, Minn. His body was recovered at 2:15 p.m. yesterday in 22 feet of water, according to Chief Deputy Sheriff William Avery of Goodhue county, Minn.

According to Deputy Avery, Smart and a nine-year old grandson, Michael Capps, of Gretna, La. were riding in a boat on Lake Pepin, part of the Mississippi river in Minnesota, when Smart's hat suddenly blew off. Apparently, Deputy Avery said, when Smart moved suddenly to recover the hat, the boat flipped over, tossing both of the boat's occupants into the water. The mishap occurred at about 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The boy was rescued, but his grandfather went under, and dragging operations were continued throughout the night by the Goodhue County sheriff's department, the Wabasha county sheriff's department, the Lake City police and fire department and some conservation officers.

The body was taken first to the Peterson Funeral home at Lake City, then transferred to the Foster Funeral home in Webster City late yesterday.

Mr. and Mrs. Smart and grandson were on vacation in Minnesota when the tragedy occurred.

Funeral services for Earl B. Smart, 51, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Asbury United Methodist church with the Rev. S. W. Cunningham officiating and with burial in Graceland cemetery.

Military services will be conducted at the graveside by the American Legion Post 191.

The body will lie in state at the Foster Funeral home until 10 a.m. Saturday when the body will be taken to the church.

Earl Bernard Smart, son of Earl A. and Hazel V. Kelsey Smart, was born Dec. 27, 1921 at Manhattan, Kan. The family moved to Webster City when he was a small child, and he was reared and educated in Webster City.

He was united in marriage to Betty J. Nelson, and the couple had always since made their home in Webster City. For the past 20 years he had been employed as a meatcutter at the Nissen Packing Co.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army, being located in the Philippine sector.

He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Walter (Patricia) Capps of Gretna, La.; one grandson, Michael Capps, two sisters, Mrs. Richard (Beryl) Hildreth, Ankeny, Mrs. Loren (Grace) Swanson of Cedar Falls.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth, in 1970; his parents; one brother, Wendle Smart, who died during World War II.

He was a member of the Asbury United Methodist church, the American Legion and the VFW.