SMITH, John P., Father 1916-2006

SMITH, HENNIGAN

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson
Date: 2/22/2006 at 21:09:33

Father John P. Smith, age 89, of Dubuque died Saturday February 18, 2006, at Stone Hill Care Center in Dubuque. He was born August 7, 1916, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Dr. John C. and Rose Mary (Hennigan) Smith. He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Loras College in Dubuque, and studied theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

He was ordained in Dubuque on May 30, 1942, saying his first Mass at the Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville. He then became associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, in Elma, Iowa. In February, 1944, he was assigned as associate pastor of St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, and in July, 1947, at Sacred Heart Parish in Dubuque.

For a few months in 1951, Father Smith was an associate at St. Boniface Parish in New Vienna, before receiving his first pastorate at St. Patrick's in Britt. Father was then named pastor of Our Lady of Seven Dolor's in Festina, in July, 1957. In August of 1960, he joined the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle to work in Bolivia. He returned to the Archdiocese in March of 1967 to become pastor of St. Joseph's in Rickardsville, and in 1968, Father Smith went back to Bolivia to serve at the Archdiocese's parish of San Raphael, Cochabamba.

Father Smith was pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Williams, Iowa, from June, 1974 to December, 1975, when he returned to Cochabamba due to the death of Father Hermann.

In July of 1978, he was named pastor of St. Ansgar's Parish, St. Ansgar, and then assumed pastor of Immaculate Conception, Wexford, and St. Ann-St. Joseph's Parish, Harper's Ferry, in July of 1985. Father Smith retired in July of 1987, and lived in Cresco, helping parishes there, as well as assisting on weekends in other parishes in the area. In 1998, he moved to Villa Raphael in Dubuque, and in February, 2001, he moved to Stone Hill Care Center, where he resided until his death.

Father Smith enjoyed the outdoors and liked nothing better than hiking in the hills and along rivers and streams, playing the piano and singing. He enjoyed a good joke with a hearty laugh.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at the Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville, Iowa, with Archbishop Jerome Hanus as Celebrant, priests of the Archdiocese as Concelebrants, Monsignor Walter Brunkan, Homilist, and Deacon Earl Weisenhorn assisting.

Burial will be in the Visitation Cemetery.

Father Smith is survived by two sisters: Germaine Gwynn of Niceville, Florida,
Virginia Roberts of Denver, Colorado;and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol Tara; and brother, Alfred Smith.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, (641) 732-3706, is in charge of arrangements.

[original Posted on Feb. 22, 2006, on www.mcpress.com (Mitchell County Press)]

[ Edited by K.L. Kittleson ]