Leo "Duff" Francis Goldsmith
January 4, 1931 — March 23, 2018
Leo “Duff” F. Goldsmith, 87, of Earlville, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, with his family by his side. Visitation: 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Delhi, Iowa, with a 3:00 p.m. Scripture Service and 8:00 p.m. Knight of Columbus Rosary. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Delhi, with additional visitation one hour prior to Mass at the church. Burial: St. John’s Cemetery, Delhi. Arrangements by Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Earlville.
Duff was born January 4, 1931, the son of Bernard and Mary (Schmidt) Goldsmith near Earlville. He was raised in the area and attended Plum Creek Elementary School. Duff served in the United States Army and Army Reserve from 1954 to 1961. On March 22, 1954, Duff married Doris Jean Gibbs. Together they farmed and raised their family. Duff was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Delhi American Legion, and the Dyersville Sportsman’s Club. Duff enjoyed farming, playing cards, dancing, and fishing. Duff loved telling a good joke as much as hearing one. He knew how to have fun and endowed each of his children with a great sense of humor. He was very sociable and a good friend to many. The most important thing in Duff’s life was his family.
Duff is survived by two daughters, Cheryl (Gary) Gates and Sue (Joel) Miles of Hopkinton, five sons, Jeff (Pam) Goldsmith of Delhi, Bruce (Amy) Goldsmith of Earlville, Anthony “Grover” (Ellen) Goldsmith of Manchester, Tom (Sue) Goldsmith of Dyersville, and Gary (Lana) Goldsmith of Iowa City; special friend, Joan Lahr of Hopkinton; twenty-three grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren; and one brother, Al (Marjorie) Goldsmith.
Duff was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Mary Goldsmith; his wife, Doris Jean Goldsmith; a grandson, Dr. Austin Goldsmith; nine sisters and two brothers, Helen Bush, Cecelia Dudley, Nellie Fergeseon, Rose Goegel, Matilda Goldsmith, Ada Hawkinson, Florence Henkel, Marieta Knospie, Thomas and Bernard Goldsmith, and a daughter in infancy; parents-in-law, Tim and Hazel Gibbs; and sister-in-law, Bernadine Lann.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Duff’s name.
Special thanks to everyone at the Good Neighbor Home for taking such good care of Dad/Grandpa by loving him and us through this last two and a half years. Also to Above and Beyond Hospice for their short but very helpful time with our family.
Duff was born January 4, 1931, the son of Bernard and Mary (Schmidt) Goldsmith near Earlville. He was raised in the area and attended Plum Creek Elementary School. Duff served in the United States Army and Army Reserve from 1954 to 1961. On March 22, 1954, Duff married Doris Jean Gibbs. Together they farmed and raised their family. Duff was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Delhi American Legion, and the Dyersville Sportsman’s Club. Duff enjoyed farming, playing cards, dancing, and fishing. Duff loved telling a good joke as much as hearing one. He knew how to have fun and endowed each of his children with a great sense of humor. He was very sociable and a good friend to many. The most important thing in Duff’s life was his family.
Duff is survived by two daughters, Cheryl (Gary) Gates and Sue (Joel) Miles of Hopkinton, five sons, Jeff (Pam) Goldsmith of Delhi, Bruce (Amy) Goldsmith of Earlville, Anthony “Grover” (Ellen) Goldsmith of Manchester, Tom (Sue) Goldsmith of Dyersville, and Gary (Lana) Goldsmith of Iowa City; special friend, Joan Lahr of Hopkinton; twenty-three grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren; and one brother, Al (Marjorie) Goldsmith.
Duff was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Mary Goldsmith; his wife, Doris Jean Goldsmith; a grandson, Dr. Austin Goldsmith; nine sisters and two brothers, Helen Bush, Cecelia Dudley, Nellie Fergeseon, Rose Goegel, Matilda Goldsmith, Ada Hawkinson, Florence Henkel, Marieta Knospie, Thomas and Bernard Goldsmith, and a daughter in infancy; parents-in-law, Tim and Hazel Gibbs; and sister-in-law, Bernadine Lann.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Duff’s name.
Special thanks to everyone at the Good Neighbor Home for taking such good care of Dad/Grandpa by loving him and us through this last two and a half years. Also to Above and Beyond Hospice for their short but very helpful time with our family.
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