Kenneth Leroy "Kenny" Smith
May 25, 1938 — May 14, 2008
Kenneth L. “Smitty” Smith, 69, died Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy after a brave fight with lung cancer. Memorial Mass: 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 19, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. The family will greet friends from 1 - 6 p.m. Sunday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, where a parish vigil service begins at 5:00 p.m. Inurnment will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids at a later date.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo, two sons, Kelly (Jody) of Cedar Rapids, Sean (Kelly) Smith of Loveland, Colorado; daughter Shelly (Rod) O’Neal of Cedar Rapids; brothers Keith (Jeanie) Smith of Maine, and Steve (Barb) Smith of Waterloo; six grandchildren, Justin, Katie, Hailey, Cary (Jenn), Brody and Logan; a great-granddaughter, Jaylee; and a great-grandson, who was born on the day Kenny died.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Nile, and two sons Cary and Noel.
Kenny was born May 25, 1938, the son of Frank and Gertrude Smith, in Central City, Iowa. He married Mary Jo Mercer at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion on September 8, 1956. Kenny was talented and skilled in many different career pursuits. These included being a pipe fitter with National Oats and Quaker Oats. He had owned and operated Smitty’s Shoe Repair in Marion and Loveland, Colorado and was also a park ranger in Fort Collins, Colorado. Kenny was a truck driver, who retired from Hutchinson Trucking Company in Manchester, Iowa.
The loves of Kenny’s life were his high school sweetheart, Mary Jo; his family, friends, the Green Bay Packers, and John Wayne. Kenny and Mary Jo really enjoyed their time spent with their wonderful family and great friends, camping, fishing, boating, playing cards, golfing, playing pool, and gardening. He loved to winter in Texas, to be with friends and enjoy the warm sun. Kenny was also a good friend of Bill W.
He not only cared for his friends and family, he cared for others by giving his time volunteering for many different organizations. Kenny was a man of character who lived his life being respectful, trustworthy, responsible and caring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kenny’s memory may be directed to his family.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo, two sons, Kelly (Jody) of Cedar Rapids, Sean (Kelly) Smith of Loveland, Colorado; daughter Shelly (Rod) O’Neal of Cedar Rapids; brothers Keith (Jeanie) Smith of Maine, and Steve (Barb) Smith of Waterloo; six grandchildren, Justin, Katie, Hailey, Cary (Jenn), Brody and Logan; a great-granddaughter, Jaylee; and a great-grandson, who was born on the day Kenny died.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Nile, and two sons Cary and Noel.
Kenny was born May 25, 1938, the son of Frank and Gertrude Smith, in Central City, Iowa. He married Mary Jo Mercer at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion on September 8, 1956. Kenny was talented and skilled in many different career pursuits. These included being a pipe fitter with National Oats and Quaker Oats. He had owned and operated Smitty’s Shoe Repair in Marion and Loveland, Colorado and was also a park ranger in Fort Collins, Colorado. Kenny was a truck driver, who retired from Hutchinson Trucking Company in Manchester, Iowa.
The loves of Kenny’s life were his high school sweetheart, Mary Jo; his family, friends, the Green Bay Packers, and John Wayne. Kenny and Mary Jo really enjoyed their time spent with their wonderful family and great friends, camping, fishing, boating, playing cards, golfing, playing pool, and gardening. He loved to winter in Texas, to be with friends and enjoy the warm sun. Kenny was also a good friend of Bill W.
He not only cared for his friends and family, he cared for others by giving his time volunteering for many different organizations. Kenny was a man of character who lived his life being respectful, trustworthy, responsible and caring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kenny’s memory may be directed to his family.
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