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George Smith Jr.
GEORGE H. SMITH JR.
Cedar Rapids
George H. Smith Jr., 97, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, July 28, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center with his family by his side. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Jude Catholic Church by the Rev. Mark Reasoner. Burial: 1 p.m. at St. Patrick & Paul Cemetery, rural Watkins, with military honors. A vigil service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit with the family following the vigil service until 8 p.m. and after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
George is survived by his wife of almost 71 years, Alice of Cedar Rapids; their children, Carolyn (Roger) Silhanek of Belle Plaine, Kenneth (Sandra) Smith of rural Watkins, Ronald Smith and David (Celia) Smith of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Theresa Smith of Norway; uncle, Mineard Smith of Watkins; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Jessica Smith; and siblings, Hubert (Eva) Smith, Margaret (Tommie) Ferris, Collette (Everett) Gerling, Rose Bratton, Edward (Theresa) Smith, Velma (George) Gavin and Paul (Yvonne) Smith.
George was born Sept. 23, 1919, near Watkins, the son of George H. and Kathrine Trojovsky Smith. He attended country school near Watkins. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Aug. 1, 1940, served one year in Shanghai, then Bataan and Corregidor. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese on May 6, 1942, and was held in the Philippines and Tokyo until being liberated on Aug. 29, 1945. On Sept. 24, 1946, George married the love of his life, Alice Marie Etscheidt, in Watkins. George was employed for 18 years by Modern Appliance doing appliance repair and later joined UA Local 125 and worked for Ilten's in air conditioner and furnace repair and service. George was a member of St. Jude Parish, a 50-year member of UA Local 125, a life member of the VFW Post 788, the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Iowa State Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War ADBC and the Hawkeye Social Group of Ex-POWs. George served with pride for several years on the VFW Post 788 Honor Guard.
George was much loved and will be greatly missed. He truly was part of the greatest generation.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
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