SMIT, Willard Wayne "Bill" 1929-2003

SMIT, JANSSEN, MEYER, MARKEN, BAPPE, STADTLANDER

Posted By: Jeffrey R. Phillips (email)
Date: 1/22/2005 at 10:27:55

Willard "Bill" W. Smit
By: 09/10/2003

December 13, 1929-September 7, 2003

IOWA FALLS - Willard "Bill" W. Smit, 73, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at his home in Iowa Falls after an 18 year struggle with emphysema and C.O.P.D. Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Iowa Falls. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post No. 188 of Iowa Falls. Visitation will be Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls. Memorials may be directed to Arlene Smit, 2307 Ellis Ave., Iowa Falls, IA 50126. All memorials will be sent to Hospice of Northern Iowa.

Willard Wayne Smit was born Dec. 13, 1929, on a farm near Chapin to Dick and Ettie (Janssen) Smit. He graduated from Chapin High School in 1947 as valedictorian of his class. Bill served in the U.S. Army from January 1952 until December 1953. He was stationed in Germany most of that time. He was released from active duty at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He then served in the Army Reserves until 1960, when he was honorably discharged. He attended Zion Reformed Church near Sheffield. In 1962, he married Arlene (Meyer) Marken at the Church of Christ in Hampton, where he attended faithfully. Bill farmed near Sheffield until June 1969, when the family moved to Iowa Falls. He worked as a mechanic at Conaway John Deere Implement Co. in Jewell until 1986, when he was diagnosed with emphysema. Bill was a Hawkeye fan and a Chicago Bulls fan. He loved watching ball games on TV, reading extensively and spending time with his family and friends. His faith in God sustained him throughout his life.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene; one son, Joel Smit of Iowa Falls; a step-daughter, Pam Bappe and husband Tom of Spring Hill, Kan.; two stepsons, Lynn Marken of Hubbard and Gene Marken and wife Sandy of Rockwell City; six step-grandchildren, Alex, Mollie and Alice Marken of Rockwell City, Jason Marken of Marshalltown, Shana Lanio and husband Mark of Olathe, Kan., and Aaron Bappe and wife Heather of Kansas City, Kan.; two step-great-granddaughters, Jordan and Shaylee Lanio of Olathe; two sisters, Mildred Wenzel and husband George of Belmond and Esther DeVries and husband Alvin of Sheffield; a brother, Dennis Smit and wife Sue of Hampton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepmother, Bessie Smit; one sister and brother-in-law, Gert and Louis Stadtlander.

©Iowa Falls Times-Citizen 2005