William Kenneth Smith 1918-2005

SMITH, HALE, MCKEE, MCCLURE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 00:36:15

Bill Smith
March 27, 1918-October 7, 2005

W.K. "Bill" Smith, 87, Onawa, Iowa, died Friday, October 7, 2005, at Burgess Health Center, Onawa.

Memorial services were 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at First Christian Church at Onawa with Rev. Dennis Olsen and Pastor Donald R. Ludwick, officiating. Burial was in Harrison Cemetery at Whiting. Arrangements were under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa.

William Kenneth Smith was born March 27, 1918 at Slayton, Minnesota, the son of Willard and Pearl (Hale) Smith. He moved with his family to a farm northwest of Onawa in the early 1920's. His early education was in rural schools before graduating from Whiting High School in 1936. He was an avid 4-H member and showed his first beef steer in 1929 at the Monona County Fair and retired 40 years later as a 4-H leader in Monona and Woodbury Counties. He married Mary E. McKee in 1940. She passed away in 1985. He later married Susan McClure November, 1986 and the couple made their home in Turin and Onawa.

Bill joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and served in the European Theater two years with the First Allied Airborne Army. After his discharge, he farmed in Monona County, worked at IC Elevator in Onawa and as a machinist at Multech Corp. in Sioux City, Iowa.

He was a member of First Christian Church, a life member of Disable Army Veterans Chapter 54, a former member and past commander of American Legion David McNeill Post #129, Onawa and a past member of Vesper Lodge #223 AF & AM. He also served as Mayor of Turin, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Susan of Onawa; three brothers, Richard Smith of Belfair, Washington, Wayne Smith of Cupertino, California and Don "Jack" Smith of Lincoln, Nebraska; two sons and their wives, Tom and Carol Smith and Ken and Cheryl Smith, all of Mapleton, Iowa; two step-children, Ken and his wife, Yoom McClure of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Jane McClure of Moorhead, Iowa; grandchildren, Mike (Amy) Smith, Patrick (Brandy) Smith and Ryan Smith; great-grandchildren, Austin Smith and Malya Smith; step-grandchildren, Matt McClure, Mark (Julie) McClure and Michelle (Jason) Mass; step-great-grandchildren, Alec Mass, Ethan McClure, Kaitlyn McClure and Joshua McClure and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He as preceded in death by his first wife, Mary; a grandson, Grant Smith and a sister, Betty Powell.