Harlan Dale SMIT

SMIT, KOENEN, LAFONTAINE, SCHAEFER, ROONEY, NEDVED, HAYUNGS, JENISON, RITTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/14/2010 at 11:45:39

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
June 30, 2003

HAMPTON — Harlan D. Smit, 66, died Thursday, (June 26, 2003) at Hampton Health Care Center after a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church, Sheffield, with Pastor Dave Schwechel and Pastor Steve Hollingsworth presiding. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Sheffield. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, Sheffield.

Harlan Dale Smit was born February 3, 1937, in rural Meservey to Ben and Ida (Koenen) Smit. He attended school and graduated from Meservey High School in 1956. Harlan then worked for Davis and Heath Construction of Clear Lake and built the Sheffield Elementary School.

On November 21, 1959, Harlan was united in marriage with Joanne LaFontaine at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell. They moved to Sheffield in 1973. He was engaged in farming for several years prior to working at Sheffield Brick and Tile Company until it closed. Harlan then worked for Sukup Manufacturing until his illness caused his retirement in 1988. Harlan attended First Baptist Church in Sheffield for several years. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and taxidermy work.

Harlan is survived by his wife, Joanne; daughters, Renee (Gary) Schaefer, Karla (Jeff) Rooney and Kim Smit all of Sheffield; five grandchildren, Kayla and Matt Schaefer and Justin, Kyle and Emily Rooney; mother, Ida Smit, Belmond; sisters and brother, Betty Nedved, Garner, Ione Hayungs, Clear Lake, Lois Jenison, Belmond, Alvin (Jackie) Smit, Thornton, JoAnn (Mike) Ritter, Goodell; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Ben; and brother, Edward. Retz-Grarup Funeral Home.