Rev. Donald R. Smith 1925-2011

SMITH HALLIGAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2011 at 21:57:18

Sioux City Journal
27 February 2011

SIOUX CITY -- The Rev. Donald R. Smith, 86, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City as celebrant. Concelebrants will be other priests from the diocese. Graveside services will be 4 p.m. Tuesday in Mount Cavalry Cemetery at Livermore, Iowa, with military graveside services performed by the American Legion of Livermore. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with a rosary recited by the Knights of Columbus at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. The Garrigan Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard at the visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Father Smith was born Jan. 10, 1925, in Bradgate, Iowa, the son of Isaac and Johanna (Halligan) Smith. He was drafted into the U.S. Army while in high school. He served during World War II and was wounded in combat in Normandy, France, in 1944. He had to have lengthy rehabilitation to his right arm. He graduated Livermore High School and then attended Creighton University, Wisconsin Institute of Technology, Missouri School of Mines and Metallogy, Loras College and Mount St. Bernard Seminary. He was ordained June 1, 1957, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

He served at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Fonda, Iowa, from 1957 to 1964 and also taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. From 1964 to 1965, he was on the faculty of Kuemper High School in Carroll, Iowa. He was pastor of St. John Parish in Ogden, Iowa, from 1965 to 1970. He was on the faculty of Sacred Heart High School in Boone, Iowa, from 1965 to 1969. He served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Laurens, Iowa, from 1970 to 1976, Assumption Parish in Merrill, Iowa (attending Ellendale) from 1976 to 1977, St. John Parish in Onawa, Iowa (attending Blencoe) from 1977 to 1986, and St. Mary Parish in Rock Valley, Iowa (attending Alvord) from 1986 to 1995, when he retired.

Father Smith enjoyed playing golf.

Survivors include 12 nieces and nephews, Lavina Kvitli, Charles Bordwell, Karen Schmidke, Raymond Armstrong, Dennis Armstrong, Beverly Grems, Jayne Cota, Becky Schipull, Cindy Froehlich, Diane Fisher, Pamela Smith and Lori Harms. Father Smith is also survived by several great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters, Edward, Harold, Clyde and Alfred Smith, Frances Bordwell, Irene Ramus and Ellen Armstrong; and seven nieces and nephews.