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Gerald Smith
GERALD "GARY" C. SMITH
Manchester
Gerald "Gary" C. Smith, 73, of Manchester, Iowa, died Sunday, March 13, 2016. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, with a Scripture service at 2 p.m. Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manchester, with visitation one hour prior to Mass at the church. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Manchester.
Gary is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Manchester; children, Brenda Kelchen of Manchester, Carrie (Mark) Gudenkauf of Quasqueton, Amy (Lavern) Kelchen of Edgewood, Deb (Brian) Wenger of Ryan and Ellen Clar of Manchester; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, Janaan Kraus of Monticello, Kenny (Cathy) Smith of Hopkinton, Kay (Elmer) Heitz of Farley, Betty (Jerry) Ries of Earlville, John (Mary Ann) Smith of Ryan, Mary Ellen (Jim) Waite of Cedar Rapids and Mark (Mary) Smith of Marion.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Maxine Zangerle and Shirley Riniker; and brothers-in-law, Walter Kraus, Dick Riniker and Kenny Zangerle.
Gary was born Aug. 21, 1942, in Hopkinton, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Bernadette (McElmeel) Smith. He was a graduate of Hopkinton High School. On Jan. 21, 1967, Gary was united to Marilyn McGrane at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manchester. Gary was employed as a milk hauler, farmer, hauled grain at Tri-Star Feed & Grain, and worked for the Delaware County Roads Department.
Gary and Marilyn loved to dance and attended as many dances as possible. He attended auctioneering college in 1976 and called many consignment auctions in the area. Gary enjoyed traveling, with vacations and tours to many states. Gary was a hard worker, always looking out for his neighbors. He was known as the "mayor of the neighborhood." He enjoyed being outdoors, gardening and going for long walks, but, most of all, he adored his children and grandchildren.
Please share a memory of Gary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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