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Kenneth Ray Smalley
KENNETH RAY SMALLEY
Iowa City
Kenneth Ray Smalley, 91, of Iowa City, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, under the loving care of the staff at Atrium Village in Hills, Iowa, and Essence of Life Hospice.
Ken was born on the farm on March 15, 1927, to Ray and Lida (Alt) Smalley. He rode a horse to country school and graduated from Tiffin High School. Ken proudly served our country as a U.S. Army Military Police officer, and was honored with a Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars.
When he came home from Korea, he joined his father in farming. Ken took great pride in sharing his love for farming with schoolchildren and 4-H clubs and also hosting foreign exchange students from all over the world. He contributed his farm knowledge through service on advisory boards for West Lucas Township, Johnson County Mutual Insurance Association, Cedar Johnson FS Growmark Inc., and Johnson County Farm Bureau. He attended Christ the King Lutheran Church and was a 70-year member of the Masonic Lodge. Later in life, Ken joined the Iowa City Shriners and had great joy supporting the Shriners Hospital for Children by riding in parades with the Camel Wheels. Throughout his life, he was an avid fisherman and hunter – he was especially gifted at "hunting" morel mushrooms.
Ken married Marcia Belter on July 22, 1955, and together they shared a life filled with a love of family, friends and travel. He was an avid Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs fan, and for many years he proudly bragged about attending the Cubs' 1945 World Series games. Ken was an even bigger fan of the accomplishments of his family, neighbors' children and friends.
A Masonic service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2:30 p.m. at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, followed by a time of visitation from 3 to 6 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Iowa City. Burial with military honors will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Ken's memory to the Shriners Hospital, the Fellowship Lodge, or Atrium Village.
Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.gayandciha.com.
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