William "Bill" Francis Smith

April 23, 1923 - March 1, 2022

William "Bill" Francis Smith, age 98, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on March 1, 2022, in Storm Lake. A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 7, 2022 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Iowa. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 6, 2022 from 2-4:00 pm with a KC Rosary beginning at 2:00 pm. A Parish Vigil Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. following the visitation. All services will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in EARLY. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements. Bill was born in Sac Co, Iowa on April 23, 1923 to Henry and Marie (Brady) Smith. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Early, IA. Bill married Marvel Wadsley in 1947. They had 3 children: Sandy, Steven and Lynn. Marvel passed away in 1978. He later married Luella (Dick) Brown and gained 6 step-children. Bill was a progressive farmer, practicing conservation and animal husbandry. He partook in sustainable agriculture promoting environmental stewardship while employing farming methods that were profitable. As an industry advocate, he hosted farm tours, and was a beef, pork, corn and soybean producer. Throughout his life, he was an active community member, serving as a director on the Early Bank Board, being a member of the Nemaha Volunteer Fire Department, Sac Co. Beef and Pork Producers, Sac Co. Ambulance Association and devotedly supporting Sacred Heart Church in Early and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Bill enjoyed life, loved his family, and cherished his friends. He was an original Farmall Promenade Tractor Square-dancer when Farmall H’s and C’s were new. Bill loved lake living where he resided for nearly 40 years and was always ready to take anyone water skiing. As an avid card player, he was always up for a game of cribbage, bridge, euchre, rummy or pitch. He was a bowler and played golf into his 90s. He enjoyed traveling including trips to Alaska and Hawaii in addition to many other trips. Bill is survived by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: Sandy (Jerry) Hurd, (Matt and his wife Wendy Hurd, Morgan, Nick & Emma), (Caryn and her husband John Paulin, Sam and Max), (Andy and his wife Lisa Hurd, Will, Chase & Sydney), (Megan and her husband Shane Washnieski, Josie and Avery); Lynn (Joy) Smith, (Seth and his wife Etta Smith, Skylar, Lane, Levi & Tilly), (Alison and her husband, Jason Steiner), Luella’s children and their families: Mary Jean (Mike) Keating, Jim (Katie) Brown, Kay (Lee) Boisen, Tom (Mary) Brown and Barb (Tom) Davis, his sisters: Anne Reisch and Marilyn (Stan) Hall, his sisters-in-law: Joyce Smith, Monica Smith, as well as many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Steven, his wife, Marvel, his wife, Luella, his daughter-in-law, Roxanne Smith, his great grandson, James Hurd, his stepson, Bob (Pam) Brown, his siblings: Cecil, Ed (Pat), Joe, Frank (Joan), Fr. Jim, Eileen (Bob) Martin, and brother-in-law Don Reisch. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Mary’s School.