Ronald "Ron" Smith

Ronald “Ron” Smith, 83, of Garwin, Iowa, passed away on the morning of September 24, 2024 surrounded by his loving family at UnityPoint Health Marshalltown.

Memorial services for Ron will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 beginning at 10:00 A.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to his family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Ronald Vernon Smith was born on February 24, 1941 in Sumner, Iowa on a farm where his parents lived. He was the oldest of two children born to Gerald and Marie (Hartzog) Smith. Ron Grew up in Waucoma, Iowa and later graduated from Waucoma High School in 1958. As a young adult Ron was traveling west to look for work. He happened to drive through Yellowstone Park. He immediately fell in love with the area. He found himself a job at a gas station near one of the entrances to the park and stayed working there a few seasons. The park became his backyard, he hiked and camped throughout much of it during his time there. Ron eventually moved on and continued his journey to California, where he met his future wife.

On June 27, 1965, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Judith “Judy” Blackstone. In their early years of marriage, they began their lives living in Martinez, California. In 1970, they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa with their daughter Susanne and then later came their second daughter, Diane. Ron was self-employed working as a carpet layer. He was an expert in the trade, teaching many others the profession along his way. While in Marshalltown, Ron was an active member of the Marshalltown Gun Club and was well known for his sharp shooting skills. After the kids were grown and out of the house, Ron and Judy moved to Garwin, Iowa to settle in their forever home. Ron became active within the Lions Club in Garwin over the years and became friends to many and was known as the town mechanic.

In his free time, Ron was an outdoorsman through and through. He loved to go hunting and fishing whenever he had the chance, and nothing brought him more joy than to take the grandchildren along and pass on his knowledge. In younger years, he was known by many to be a master prankster, pulling practical jokes on his family and friends. To his children and family, he was the man who could fix anything and also knew everyone, no matter where you were.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his daughters, Susanne (William) Kingston of Ankeny, Iowa and Diane (Veronica Meij) Smith of Denver, Colorado; his grandchildren, Kyle (Sarah) Smith, Allese Brooks, Luke Anderson, and Alarico Meij; his great-grandchildren, Isaac, Asher, and Isla Smith and Kennedy and Drexler Brooks; his sister, Barbara Smith of California and his nephew, Louis Inderbitzen III and great-nephew, Louis Inderbitzen IV.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Judy Smith; and his parents, Gerald (Mildred) Smith and Marie Hartzog.