John L. SMITH

SMITH, MCALPINE, BOYINGTON, AVERY, HIEMSTRA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/19/2006 at 23:27:33

John L. Smith, 57, of Clarion, died Thursday, March 1, 2001. Funeral services were held Sunday, March 4 at the United Church of Rowan at 2 p.m. Interment followed at Graceland Cemetery, also in Rowan. Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of arrangements.

John L. Smith was born August 22, 1943, in Belmond, the son of Lester “Shorty” Smith and Lillian McAlpine. He and Vicky Boyington were united in marriage on November 27, 1961, in Rowan. John was a lively spirit and loved life and it showed. He was an active member of the “Iowa River Riders”, which was his snowmobiling club; a board member of the Dows Golf Course; a former Rowan city council person; former Lions Club member; and member of the Rowan Coffee Club. He loved outdoor activities - fishing, especially the annual trips to Canada; skiing, camping, snowmobiling, golfing and gardening. He was the ultimate Iowa Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed cooking, shooting pool, playing cards, and watching his nephew, Steve and brother, Jim at the races. He was the homebase for his snowmobiling club, the “Iowa River Riders”, a fitting name since John loved living along the Iowa River. He was also a proud member of the last graduating class of Rowan High School. John farmed in the Rowan and Riceville areas, drove school bus for the Rowan School District, and was a longtime salesman for the John Deere Implement Company, but more recently, a crop insurance salesman, owning his own agency, Smith Insurance Agency. But for all his activities and achievements, John most enjoyed his friends and family, who will always remember him as the lively spirit who was generous to all.

John is survived by his children; Terri Avery and husband, James of Clarion, Tammi Smith and Ryan George of Clarion, Timothy Smith and wife, Vanessa of Clarion; and their mother, Vicky Boyington; brothers, James Smith and wife, Judy of Belmond, Mike Smith and wife, Charlene of Rowan; sister, Jeannine Hiemstra and husband, David of Clarion; four grandchildren; nephews, and special friends, Rhonda Benton and her daughter of Rowan. John was preceded in death by his parents.

© Wright County Monitor 2001