Donald Smith, 93, of Oelwein passed away Wednesday February 3, 2021 at Arlington Place Assisted Living in Oelwein. Private family graveside service will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein with Carol Hamilton officiating. A memorial fund has been established and will be directed towards Alzheimer’s Research.
Donald William Smith was born in Oelwein on May 14, 1927 to parents Ferd and Mauna Smith. He graduated from Oelwein High School with the class of 1945. He then served his country honorably in the United States Navy during WWII. In June of 1950 he was united in marriage with Verna Howell and they had two children. Verna passed away in 1990. Donald was a Tool & Die Maker and had been employed with Oelwein Tool & Die and Bachman Tool & Die. He had also worked part-time with Paul Niemann Construction. Donald was member of the American Legion.
Donald put his heart and soul into his job and family. He enjoyed spending time with his two children and their families and friends at his cabin on the Mississippi. In his younger years he enjoyed building projects including his cabin he built with his son, his pontoon houseboat, two houses, two pool tables and doll houses and toy boxes for his grandchildren; as well as various other projects. In later years he enjoyed outings, going to the Coliseum, and going to the park with his great-grandchildren and puppies. He also enjoyed going for drives (Dairy Queen being his favorite destination), playing cards, Jenga and Yahtzee, lovingly harassing the Arlington Place staff, and watching the birds and deer outside his window.
Left to celebrate Donald’s life are his children: Gary (Mary) Smith of Oelwein and Kathi (Bruce) Behrens of Oelwein; his granddaughter Brooke (Jacob) Dudley of Oelwein; his great-grandchildren: Lainey, Brynley, Hudsyn and Mavrick of Oelwein; his sister Jean Smith of Albuquerque, NM; his brother Jim Smith of Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Verna; three brothers and four sisters.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Cedar Valley Hospice for their amazing care, kindness and compassion given to Donald and his family. They would also like to thank the Arlington Place staff that cared for and loved their Dad.
