WATKINS:  Mineard F. "Smitty" Smith, age 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, September18, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Watkins, with Rev. Fr. Jacob Dunne as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM Sunday, also at the church in Watkins.  Interment with military rites will be held at St. Patrick and St. Paul Cemetery in Watkins.  A memorial fund has been established.

Smitty was born on April 3, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Mineard J. and Delhia (Wodstrchill) Smith. He graduated from Norway High School with the class of 1960.  He served his Country in the United States Army.  On July 2, 1966, he was united in marriage to Diane Schuhmacher, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Walford.

Smitty worked at Iowa Manufacturing, then Cedarapids Inc. and finally Terex, retiring after 46 years of service.  He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Watkins and the Norway American Legion Post #234.  A lifelong lover of history, Smitty spent countless hours studying and reading details about genealogy and especially World War II.  He also earned his Private Pilots License in his younger years.  He enjoyed trips out to eat, seeing the countryside and attending the farmer's market with Diane.

Survivors include his wife, Diane; daughter, Kim (Jack) Shaw of Mesa, AZ; 3 grandchildren, Kaitlynn Wilson, Mackenzie (Tristan) James, Nicholas Wilson; and 3 great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Will, and Isla.

He is preceded in death by his parents; 2 daughters, Mary Delhia in infancy, and Cynthia A. Smith in 2020

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com