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Kermit VanBuren Smith

1916 - 2004

Kermit V. Smith

May 30,1916 - January 25, 2004

Iowa Falls - Kermit VanBuren Smith, 87, of Iowa Falls died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, at Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls. Private graveside services were held Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls, with Rev. Don Preston of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Military honors were provided by Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post No. 188, Iowa Falls. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Kermit was born May 30, 1916, at Goodell to Matthew and Mable (Bachman) Smith. He graduated from the Klemme High School in 1934.

Kermit served with the U.S. Army from April 3, 1942, to June 22, 1945. He served in the European Theatre, earning three bronze stars in the Normandy, Northern France, and German campaigns, and two purple hearts during the Northern France campaign.

On May 26, 1948, he was united in marriage to Esther Mae Ghoske at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls.

Kermit was very mechanically inclined and had been employed by Johnson Motors, Ralston Purina Mills and Ellsworth Community College, all in Iowa Falls.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post No. 188, Iowa Falls.

Survivors include his wife, Esther, of Iowa Falls; a son, Wayne Smith of Iowa Falls; a granddaughter, Sarah Smith of Murphysboro, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Harley Smith; a brother, Marvin Smith; a sister, Charlott Smith; and one half-sister, Ruth Smith.

Linn's Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

source: ©Iowa Falls Times Citizen, 31 Jan 2004, page 7, column 1

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Kermit VanBuren Smith: born 30 May 1916 - died 25 Jan 2004

Grave marker at Union Cemetery, Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa

Husband of Esther M. Ghoske, born 1926 - died 2015

Father of :
Harley Kermit Smith (1949 - 2001)
Wayne Smith

source: Find-A-Grave, memorial# 18833997