Dennis Smith

DENNIS K. SMITH

Castana

Dennis K. Smith, 66, of rural Castana, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at a Sioux City hospital following a four-month illness.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at St. John's United Methodist Church, Mapleton, Iowa, with the Rev. Jena Manchester officiating. Graveside services will follow at 3:30 p.m. in Grant Township Cemetery in rural Ticonic, Iowa. Military honors will be provided by the Grimsley-Thayer American Legion Post 502 of Castana. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Rush Family Chapel in Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa.

Dennis Kirk Smith was born Jan. 2, 1951, in Onawa, Iowa, to Raymond "Curley" and Edna Mae (Kirk) Smith. He grew up in the Whiting and Onawa areas and attended school at Whiting and West Monona.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and served two tours in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971 with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division as an armor crewman, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among other medals. He later served for a time with the Iowa National Guard in Mapleton.

Dennis married Susan Blakely on June 2, 1972, in Ticonic, Iowa. They made their home near Rodney, Iowa, and had two daughters, Shana and Heidi.

He worked with his family for Lakin Farms for a time and then earned a degree in police science from Western Iowa Tech Community College. He worked as marshal for Rodney, police officer for the city of Onawa for two years, deputy sheriff for Monona County for four years, and then as Monona County sheriff from December 1980 until January 2001. He was the youngest person ever elected sheriff of Monona County at the age of 29. His passion was his work in law enforcement. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren, and had a huge soft spot for his favorite friends, his animals.

Dennis is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Susan Smith, of Castana; his daughters, Shana (Tim) Coker of Cedar Rapids, and Heidi (Chad Gaukel) of Trinity, Fla.; his grandchildren, Paige Davis, Erin Coker, Jackson Coker, C.J. Coker, Hayden Gaukel and Leo Gaukel; one sister, Sue Smith, of Omaha, Neb.; two brothers, Larry Smith of Merrill, Iowa, and Robert Smith of Delta, Colo.; sister-in-law, Sharon Smith of Surprise, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a special grandmother, Daisy Kirk; three brothers, Terrance Smith, Dean Smith and David Smith; a sister-in-law, Donna Smith; and his best buddies, his dogs, Fat Boy and Miles.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com.