Smith, Howard York 1928-2011

SMITH, HANSEN, KAHLER, MERTZ

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 10/30/2011 at 17:29:05

Howard York Smith, age 82, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, passed away on the morning of April 13, 2011. This was after an extended illness. Howard was born on May 21, 1928, in Des Moines. In 1946 he graduated from East High School, Des Moines, Iowa, and received his degree from Drake University. He was a 75 year member of the Des Moines YMCA. During the Korean Conflict he served in the United State Air Force. After his return from military service he worked for Ecolab in South Bend, Indiana and Fort Dodge, Iowa, as a sales representative and in St. Paul at the Ecolab home office as a sales manager. Howard was proud of his Scottish heritage and participated in many Scottish groups and activities. Special bag pipe music for the church service was provided by Christopher Lacher, Regent Clan Buchanan. Howard and Merna Hansen were united in marriage on June 20, 1959 at First Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2009. During retirement, Howard and Merna enjoyed traveling and managed to visit all seven continents.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Betty Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, brother Roger of Shreveport, Louisiana, brother-in-law Murl Hansen of Remsen, Iowa.
He is survived by loving wife Merna, sister-in-law Myrt Hansen, Remsen, Iowa, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ray and Peg Hansen, Granville, Iowa; Ken (Joy) Hansen, Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Linda (Terry) Kahler, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chuck (Karen) Hansen, Johnston, Iowa; Donna (Keith) Mertz, Neosho, Wisconsin and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is also survived by his two Schnauzers, Duchess and Duke – funeral bulletin.