Michael Smith

Michael R. Smith, 72, of Sioux Center, IA, died September 10, 2016, at Royal Meadows Care Center of Sioux Center.

A visitation will be held on Thursday September 15, from 6-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Friday at 10:00AM at Christ Community Church of Sioux Center.  Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held on Friday September 16, at 11:00AM at the Christ Community Church of Sioux Center with Pastor Mitch Considine and Pastor Randy Widbin officiating.

The Smith family prefers memorials to ALS Association Iowa Chapter.

Michael Reid Smith, November 17, 1943 – September 10, 2016

Michael was a beloved husband, father, and friend to the many lives he touched in his 72 years.  He had a passion and gift for engaging those around him, listening to joys and pains; giving generously of his time and resources as he was able.  His quick wit and sense of humor brought smiles to many a face.

Michael Reid Smith was born in Defiance, Ohio on November 17, 1943, to Veatch and Lillian Marie (Reid) Smith.  Early schooling occurred in many states across the country including Ohio, Colorado and Tohatchi, New Mexico and California.  As a young boy, his interests were model railroad and stamp collecting. His sophomore year of high school was at Jewel High School in Ohio with his junior/senior years at Bailey, Colorado.  He went to college at Western State College and Colorado State University, majoring in Biology.

At a young 21 years of age he qualified as a TWA co-pilot.  He married Diane D Wolf on April 5, 1966 and they resided in Des Plaines, Illinois.  From there the young couple moved to Camp Reinberg, Illinois where Diane taught Outdoor Education.  Michael became a Christian by reading Alexander Solzhenitsyn.  Following their next move to an apartment, they were blessed with a daughter, Cherie Lynn.  From there they moved to their first home in Arlington Heights, Illinois where they were blessed with a son, David Laurence.

In 1975, they moved to their second home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to raise their family in the country, where they lived for 38 years.  While living there, Michael became an airline captain at the age of 39, flying DC-9 and 727 commercial aircraft for Trans World Airlines.  His flying career fueled a love for book collecting and he knew the best rare book stores in every U.S. city with a major airport, ultimately curating a library of over 1,500 books.  He passed to his children a great love for reading.  In particular, he enjoyed history (English, Biblical and European) and British mysteries.   He retired in 1992 at the age of 48.  He cherished his children and 11 grandchildren and was always interested in their activities.  He and Diane shared over 50 happy years together.

Michael was a member of Faith Chapel Evangelical Free church in Burlington, WI.  Although not typically a group joiner, he was a member of a men’s Bible study where he grew and loved others.  Micah 6:8 describes his conviction of what God required of him, “….to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

He is survived by his wife, Diane, daughter Cherie and David Los of Sioux Center, son David and Erin Smith of Springboro, OH, and 11 grandchildren:  Zach, Bethany, Sydney, Rachel, Lillian, Rebecca, Adeline, Gabriel, Hannah, Elisha and Jake.  His cousins include Cindy Long, Linda Simpson and Jack Long. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Veatch and Lillian Smith, in-laws, Laurence and JoAnn Wolf, his aunts Mildred and Helen, and cousins Jean, Craig and Bill.

Casket Bearers will be Dave Los, David Smith, Zechariah Los, Gabriel Smith, Pastor Mitch Considine, and Carl Gernand.