Smith, Jene Joseph 1934 - 2013
SMITH, MARUSKA, KUENNEN, SCHMITT, BALK, HUINKER, TIETZ, HEYING, WURZER, BALIK, MACPHERSON, CASSATA
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/29/2013 at 10:05:44
Jene Smith, age 79, of Ft. Atkinson, IA, died Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, IA.
Memorial Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2013, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ft. Atkinson, IA, with Father Nick March presiding. Burial of cremains will be in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, IA.
Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 5, 2013, and also after 9:00 a.m., on Friday, December 6, 2013, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel in Ft. Atkinson, IA. There will be a scripture service at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 5, 2013.
Jene Joseph Smith was born on March 19, 1934, the son of John and Anna (Maruska) Smith near Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Jene attended and graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1952. After graduation, Jene signed a contract to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played for their farm team as a pitcher and had a very good fastball. His baseball career was cut short when his father died, and he returned to Fort Atkinson to take over the farming operation. Jene was united in marriage to Arlene Kuennen on June 18, 1955, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. Together they had four children: Lyle, Wayne, Marianne and Joel. On November 18, 2000, Jene was married to Marvelene (Balk) Schmitt at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma. Over the years Jene enjoyed farming with his sons, auctions, day trips, as well as attending his grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. He was also known as a professional “story teller” and liked to recall stories of the past. Jene was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Fort Atkinson Historical Society. He also served on the board of directors for the Farmer’s Co-op and Citizen’s Savings Bank.
Jene’s survivors include his wife: Marvelene Schmitt, Ft. Atkinson, IA. Jene’s four children: Lyle (Denise) Smith, Sioux Falls, SD; Wayne (Susan) Smith, Ft. Atkinson, IA; Marianne (Larry) Huinker, Calmar, IA; and Joel (Gina) Smith, Ft. Atkinson, IA. Marvelene’s three children: Ernie (Lana) Schmitt, Waucoma, IA; Marlys (Robert) Smith, Marshalltown, IA; and Gary (Tami) Schmitt, Waucoma, IA. Fifteen grandchildren: Bobbi Smith, Jason (Tiffany) Smith, Karla Smith, Erica (Ben) Tietz, Amber Smith, Rachelle Smith, Matthew Smith, Eric Schmitt, Jordan Schmitt, Brian Schmitt, Ben (Shauna) Smith, Madelyn Smith, Kyle (Laura) Schmitt, Kelsey Schmitt and Kara Schmitt. Three great-grandchildren: Brooklyn & Brett Smith and Flynn Heying. One sister: Joan Wurzer, Milwaukee, WI. Sisters and brothers-in-law: Betty Smith, Yuma, CO; Cathy (Robert) Balik, Kalamazoo, MI; Kenneth Kuennen, Decorah, IA; Wayne MacPherson, Strongsville, OH.
Jene was preceded in death by his parents: John and Anna (Maruska) Smith. His first wife: Arlene (Kuennen) Smith on August 18, 1998. One brother: Virgil Smith. Four sisters: Alma Smith, Rosella (John) Cassata, Cleone Smith, and Martha MacPherson. Sister-in-law: Lorraine Kuennen. Brother-in-law: Marv Kuennen.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
St. John's Catholic Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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