Jack L. SMITH

SMITH, TITUS, SMIDT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/9/2010 at 17:53:14

MASON CITY -Jack L. Smith, 83, of Mason City, and formerly of Britt, died Friday (Dec. 18, 2009) at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at the Methodist Church, 707 Fourth St. S.W. Britt, with the Rev. Bob Dodge and Pastor Clyde Harvey officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the spring. There will be no visitation; per his wishes he was cremated. Memorials may be directed to the Jack L. Smith Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Jack L. Smith was born on May 26, 1926, the youngest son of John and Rosa (Titus) Smith in Harcourt, Iowa. At a young age, Jack and his older brother, Jimmie, and parents moved to the family farm north of Wesley. Jack attended country schools and graduated from Britt High School in 1942, he also attended junior college for a short time. After graduation, he farmed with his father at the family farm.

He was married to Leona Smidt on Aug. 21, 1945, in Kanawha. Together they farmed until 1958, they then moved to Britt, where Jack was part owner/manager of the Hutchins Elevator. In 1961, Jack and Leona moved to California where Jack was employed with several different trucking companies as a manager and also worked in sales. In 1998 they moved back to Britt, where they owned and operated the Britt Motel and they also refurbished several houses in town. Together they enjoyed traveling all over the country in their motor home until Jack's health started to fail. Jack was an all around handyman and also enjoyed golfing and spending time with family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Leona E. Smith, of Mason City; sons, Gary and wife, Donna Smith, of Mason City, and David Smith, of Moose Lake, Minn.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Mark in 2000 and Thomas in 2006; and a brother, Jimmie Smith, in World War II. Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
December 22, 2009