Thomas A. Smith
July 2, 1938 ~ March 9, 2013
Thomas A. Smith, age 74, of Elma, IA passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Thomas Alphonse Smith was born July 2, 1938 in Elma, IA, the son of Clement and Mabel (Tierney) Smith. He attended school at Our Lady of Lourdes School and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1956. He entered the U.S. Air Force for four years. Tom married Shirley Rance at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma on February 8, 1964. They lived their married life in Elma. He was employed as postmaster in Elma for 32 years and served in the Army and Air Force Reserve for a total of 28 years. Tom was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, John Frahm American Legion Post #597 of Elma, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Elma Knights of Columbus Council #4144, Catholic Order of Foresters, National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), and United Commercial Travelers (UCT). He served as an officer with these organizations. Tom was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved to socialize and play cards.Tom is survived by his wife Shirley of Elma; children Todd (Julie) Smith of Elma, Terry (Patty) Smith of Belmond, IA, Tammy (Tony) White of Kansas City, MO, and Ted (Wendy) Smith of Mantorville, MN; 12 grandchildren Phillip, Raquel, Lauren, Jackson and Olivia Smith, Sarah, Nathan and Adam Smith, Tyler and Trever White and Anna and Abby Smith; five brothers Clem (Judy) Smith of Cresco, IA, Dennis (Marie) Smith of Elma, Paul (Nancy) Smith of Ft. Worth, TX, Francis (Carol) Smith of Elma and Patrick (Barb) Smith of Elma; five sisters Sister Mary Smith of Clinton, IA, Bernie (Bob) Voves of Elma, Elaine (Mike) Farrington of Elma, Annie (Chuck) Riley of Elma, and Rosie (Mike) Zeimetz of Elma; mother-in-law Angeline Rance of Elma and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Clement and Mabel Smith and father-in-law, Raymond Rance.
Cemetery:
Burial will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery at Lourdes, IA with grandsons Phillip Smith, Jackson Smith, Nathan Smith, Adam Smith, Tyler White and Trever White serving as casket bearers. Military rites will be provided by Elma American Legion John Frahm Post #597.
Memorial may be directed to Tom's family.
Visitation will be from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma, IA with a 7:00pm 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice presentation and a 7:30pm scriptural wake service. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, IA with Father Steve Garner celebrating mass.
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Please accept our sincere condolences. May the words quoted from this song bring you a measure of comfort as it did for us.
”If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand ”(Job 14:13-15)
Shirley and family, we were sorry to hear ofTom’s death and will be missed and he is free of all the health problems he has been going thru and is in a better home now with no problems. He will be in our prayers Fran/Jerome
Sjirley, so sorry to hear about Tom. Condolences to you and your family.
Our sympathy goes out to all of the family on the loss of Tom. We will keep you in our prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith families think of all the wonderful memories you have to cherish forever in your hearts.
Shirely and family, my sincere sympathy at the loss of Tom. Tom enjoyed every minute of life and God’s calling was for him not to have to deal with one more Daylight Savings Time! He didn’t have to turn any clocks ahead as he has a new home in Heaven. God bless you as you grieve.
sorry to hear about tom our thoughts are with your family
Sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family have our sympathy.
My sympathy and prayers are with all of Tom’s family. I was a high school classmate of Tom’s, graduating in 1956.
I will miss him at our next class reunion.
My thoughts and prayers to you, Shirley, and to the whole Smith family.
Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the Smith Family. The Smith’s are great neighbors.
Our sincere sympathy to the many members of the Smith families. Losing a husband, father, brother and friend brings such great sorrow. Hold onto all of the great memories…Tom provided a lot of them for all of you!
Our sincere sympathy to you and all your family. Will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Our sympathy to the Smith family God has a reason for taking us when he is ready. We know he had a reason for Tom. Remember the memories and he will live in your hearts forever. Our prayers are for the whole family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Smith families as you face this difficult week.
Shirley and all of Tom’s Family, Our sympathy and prayers are with you all.Just remember all the good times.Now Tom is meeting his Sister Mary in a very special place.Our thoughts are with you all.Tom and Marian Gebel
Shirley and family, we regret that we will not be able to attend services for Tom, but send our sympathy and love. We will never forget the kindness Tom showed for our family and Quinn in a hard time in our lives and in general.
Becky and Keith Buckridge and Family
Smith family sorry for your loss tom was a good man who always has time to say hi how are you doing
Ted and family. Our sincere condolences on behalf of your friends at State Auto Insurance.
” May the memories keep you calm in the rough waters ahead”
Donovan
Ted, so sorry to hear about your Dad. Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
Thoughts and prayers are with you.
You have our deepest sympathy
My sincerest sympathies to Shirley, Todd, Terry,Tammy and Ted and their families. Great family, great neighbors and great friends.
On the behalf of the Bill Laue family, I am sorry for your loss. Tom was a huge presence in Elma. His leadership and friendship will surely be missed.
Michael Laue
Our sincere sympathy to all of you at this difficult time. Hold your memories close to your hearts…memories last a lifetime! You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Shirley & entire Smirh family, we tried to make the afternoon visitation but had to turn back because of blowing and drifting snow. We are sorry to hear of your loss. You have our sincere sympathy and we we will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
Shirley & Family…so sorry to learn of Tom’s passing. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. Gary & Karen
Shirley and family: sorry to hear of your loss. It is very hard to lose an important link in the family chain. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and may God bless you and yours. Dean and Alice
Shirley,
Our hearts go out to you and your family in Tom’s death. You both are special people and we will really miss Tom. We really wanted to come for his visitation, but the roads in our area are not good today. so can’t make it. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now at this most difficult time and in the days ahead. May God’s love surround you and give you peace.
Tom, Doris, Dick and Monica
Shirley, so sorry to hear of Tom’s death. He will be greatly missed in the town of Elma and by his family. Your and your family have my prayers and sympathy.
To Ted, Wendy, Anna, Abby, Shirley…and the entire Smith family. I am sorry for your loss. Tom always impressed me as a gentleman having a warm and friendly nature, and I know he was very helpful to the family in many ways. He will be missed by all of us.
To the Smith’s,
Sallie and I are deeply sadened by the passing of Tom. You are all in our hearts and prayers at this time of loss. Feel comfort in knowing Tom is in a better place!!!
When I think of my old neighborhood in Elma, Tom certainly comes to mind. He was always friendly to us when we were kids growing up. I still have fun memories of taking the laundry van to Charles City with bundles of Oliver shop towels and bringing home wet towels to be dried and folded. Tom trusted me and gave me a chance to earn a few dollars as a teenager. More than 40 years later, it still means a lot to me.
Your Jet’s friends in Kansas City are so sorry for your loss. We wish we could be there for you today and tomorrow, but cannot logistically make it work. Know that we are there for you in thoughts and prayers. We will all miss Tom, he was a wonderful fun person. We love you.
Shirley so sorry to hear of your loss. thinking of
tom brings back a lot of good memories. know that we are thinking of you and your family.
Smith Family,
We were not able to make it up to Elma for services and I just wanted to send you all our sympathy in the passing of Tom, husband, father, and brother. Tom was so blessed to have and leave behind such a great wife, wonderful kids, and a great group of brothers and sisters. Sending prayers and peace in the memories made.
Take care all–
Joanne and Jerry and family
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this challenging time.
So sorry to hear your loss…… SOOOO MANY MEMORIES he will be missed…….
Ted and family,
so sorry for your loss. Our prayers to you
Ted and family,
so sorry for your loss. Our prayers to you
Shirley, Sorry to see that Tom passed away. I was at Luva Morfeld funeral, and I saw Tom there but didn’t get a chance to talk to him. I was told he had Cancer, he didn’t look good then. We had good customer relation, when he had the Laundromat. You and you family have my sympathy, my God Bless you all
Jim Darrah
Thinking of you. I went to grade school with Tom.
Ray
To The Family Of Tom Smith: We would like to offer our prayers and sympathies during this time of loss. May God Bless his entire family with strength & peace. Don & Deb Morrison
So sorry for your loss. Just know we are thinking about
you. God’s love ~ Bob and Marie Moudry
Ted, so sorry to hear about the passing of your father. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Stay strong and know he is now in a great place.
Sorry to be so late in extending my sincere condolences, I tried earlier but noticed today that the message never stuck.
I know Tom left a deep feeling of loss among all his family and the many friends he cultivated over his lifetime. I am proud to say that he was a close friend from our childhood days, exchanging visits between our farm homes, and thru the years when we occasionally met: once in Puerta Vallarta, Mex., another in Seattle, and in his home on Elma. He’ll be missed by all. I know that he gained a place among the other dear ones in great heaven above.
My warmest of thoughts and prayers to his dear wife, Shirley, and his dear brothers and sisters.
With deepest sympathy, David Hughes