Obituary of Cecil F. Smith

Cecil F. Smith Jr., 96, of rural Iowa City, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Atrium Village in Hills.

Funeral services will be 11 am Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Gay & Ciha Funeral Service in Iowa City where a time of visitation will be held from 9-11 am prior to the service.  Burial with military honors will follow at the Lone Tree Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Cecil’s memory to Essence of Life Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to Cecil’s family at www.gayandciha.com.

Cecil Frank Smith Jr. was born April 2, 1922; son of Cecil D. and Violet (Hirt) Smith.  On March 10, 1946 he married Alice Clausen.  A short time later Cecil was drafted into the US Army to serve in WWII, where he would travel to Pearl Harbor and onto Japan shortly after the bombing of Hiroshima as part of the occupation forces.  Upon his return, they moved to a farm south of Iowa City, and would remain there until recently. Cecil and Alice made the State Fair a family tradition for many years and looked forward to going every summer.  Together they also enjoyed frequent trips to the Brick Haus in Amana.  Cecil loved his 4 grandsons dearly and enjoyed sharing his farming knowledge with them.   

His family includes his children, Charlotte Thomann of Riverside, Alan Smith (friend, Christy) of Marion, Donna Rossman (Richard) of Lone Tree and Tena Smith (Al Riggan) of Ainsworth; grandchildren, Robert Thomann (Anna), Paul Thomann (Sarah), Kyle Rossman (Barbara) and Keaton Rossman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Alice, son-in-law, Ron Thomann, sisters, Virginia Ribble and Lela Matthes, brother-in-laws, Tom Ribble and Walter Matthes.