Ward Smith

Allen Ward Smith, 82, of Duncombe, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Mary Greely Medical Center in Ames. Funeral services will be held on Monday 10:30 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, with Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 3:00 to 7:00 at the Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife Cheryl of Duncombe; daughters, Michelle Granahan and her husband, Jim of Tomah, WI; Meredith Mickelson and her husband, Jason of Duncombe; Monique Otterbeck and her husband, Ryan of Des Moines; 6 grandsons, Austin, Bradley, and Connor Granahan; Zachary and Jacob Mickelson; and Parker Otterbeck; 1 granddaughter, Palmer Otterbeck; brother, Clifford (Sue) Smith of McHenry, IL; sisters, Shirley Schroeder of Hazelwood, MO; and Sandra Perry of Newton; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Ward was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Merle Smith, James "Ike" Smith, Melvin "Boots" Smith, Jerry Smith and Darwin Smith; sisters, Fern VanDaele, Eunice DeVore, Ramona Claypool, and Roxanna "Roxy" Schultz. Allen Ward Smith was born on April 2, 1935, in Osceola, IA; to Howard and Ellen (Chumbley) Smith. He attended schools in Clarke County before moving to Fort Dodge where he graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1955. Ward enlisted with the U.S. Army where he served in Germany. When Ward was just 17 years old he began farming in the Fort Dodge area while living with the William Secor family. He continued to farm throughout his life for over 62 years. On August 6, 1966, he was united in marriage to Cheryl Ann Snell at the First Congregational Church in Fort Dodge. Ward was employed with Bush Hog Manufacturing (formerly Standard Engineering) where he worked in the Engineering Department. Ward designed a front end loader for Bush Hog. He was able to purchase the prototype which his family still uses. Ward also had 31 years of service in the Fort Dodge School System. He truly enjoyed his many friends and especially loved to be with his family. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.