Austin Smith

AUSTIN SMITH

Monticello

Austin Smith, age 6 – It is with shattered hearts that we share with you that Austin gained his angel wings on Friday morning, May 20, 2016, and won his 16-month battle with DIPG. He was snuggled with his mom and dad at home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello, with interment in Oakwood Cemetery. Pastor Wade Reddy will officiate at the service. Friends may register after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Austin's family requests attendees wear #AUSTINSTRONG or superhero-inspired attire. Visitation will be private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Austin Smith Benefit Fund, which will soon become the #AUSTINSTRONG Foundation that will raise funds for research and help other children and families affected by childhood cancer.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are his parents, Britt and Mikinzie; his sidekick, Pippa; grandparents, Jeff and Kris Weers and Kevin and Annette Smith; aunt, Jillian Smith; and great- grandparents, Judy Weers, Marilyn Ketelsen and Ann and Larry Culver.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Gerald Weers, Don Ketelsen, Ken Langenberg and Paul and Dickie Smith.

Austin Jeffery Smith was born Oct. 28, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was part of the kindergarten class at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. He loved the Green Bay Packers, the Iowa Hawkeyes, hockey, playing T-ball, school, camping, chocolate milk, his puppies and everything superheroes!

There are no words to describe how much we will miss him, but we know he is perfect once again, running, jumping and playing just as a 6-year-old boy should. He will forever be our superhero, forever the light of our lives, and forever 6 years old. Because of him we will forever be Austin Strong.