Lavane Smith
April 29, 1926 ~ January 14, 2011
Lavane G. Smith, age 84 of rural Ionia died Friday January 14, 2011, at Waverly Health Center.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at the Frederika Methodist Church with Pastor Sheryl Hull officiating. Janice Edson will sing “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” and “Rock of Ages” and will be accompanied by organist Betty Schmudlach. 'Amazing Grace' will be sang by the congregation.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Nashua. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church in Frederika.
Interment will be in the Allison City Cemetery in Allison with Norris Smith, Noren Smith, Les Parker, Leon Harms, Bill Kurth, Steve Smith, Rob Everhard, and John McCarville serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Monnier and Dennis Niemeyer.
Lavane George Smith was born April 29, 1926, on the family farm in rural Butler County, the son of Carl and Maude (Burbridge) Smith. He attended Brushy Mound School in Butler County and Richland Township Country School. He graduated from Frederika High School in 1943.
Lavane worked side by side with his father on the family farm. When his father was no longer able to farm, he started working at Terex in Waverly. He held this job for over twenty years and lived at home and took care of his parents in their later years. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed growing flowers. He always took very good care of the farm cats and dogs. He loved watching all sports and would travel around Northeast Iowa to watch high school and college teams play. He took great pride in his yard, and mowed many acres of grass on his farm. He loved to share his produce with friends, neighbors, and his family.
Lavane was baptized as an adult and was a member of the Frederika Methodist Church. He was very active in his congregation and served on the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee.
Lavane is survived by two brothers, Carl Smith of Waverly, Darwin Smith of Nashua; one sister, Leatrice Einck of Nashua; 12 nieces and nephews; 19 great-nieces and nephews; and many great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marva Alice; a brother, Norman Smith; four sisters-in-law, Vivian Smith, Alice Smith, Janina Smith, and Leona Smith; and one brother-in-law, Wayne Einck.
My grandma, Dorothy Brase lived near Lavane and my mom, Nancy grew up knowing him as a friend and as a neighbor. I met him when I was younger when I stayed with my grandma for a few summers and always enjoyed his company. I always enjoyed talking to him and will miss him very much! My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I lived across the road from Lavane when I was growing up, and worked for him one fall. He was a fantastic neighbor, always willing to help, if needed. He kept an eye on my Mom after Dad died. He and Mom sort of looked out for each other. Our sympathies with the family. Roger and Linda McBride
Our family knew all the Smith family very well and we lived just a few miles from where Lavane lived. We lived neighbors to Lavane’s brother Carl for many years. Lavane was a very friendly and admired person. All who knew him were his friends. He worked hard whenever there was work to do. Our condolences go out to family and friends. Ralph and Shirley Feuchtwanger and Family