Roger W. Smith

IN MEMORY OF

ROGER W. SMITH

BORN
June 20, 1929
Fairmont, Minnesota
PASSED AWAY
August 4, 2008
Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Thursday, August 7, 2008
United Methodist Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Marvin Lindley ~ Officiating
Inspirational Reading ~ (Composed by: Wally Probst)
Read by: Phil Vander Ploeg
Visitation
will be Wednesday, August 6, 2008
after 2:00pm with the family present from 7:00 - 8:30pm at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

MUSIC
“The Lord’s Prayer”
Sung by: King Hickman
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Because He Lives”
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Pianist: Wil George
Organist: Barb Burns

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Dr. Mike Vander Berg Ronald Brinkman
Richard Schneider Dr. Ken Fertig
Thomas Whorley Phil Vander Ploeg
Dr. James Hanno Don Van Der Weide
Wayne Reed Bob Hartman
CASKET BEARERS
Dr. David Kruse Dean Halstrom
Mark Steele Tim Mortenson
Tracy Tjossem Kurt Tatsumi

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery ~ Sheldon, Iowa

After the graveside service relatives and friends are invited to join the
family in the fellowship hall of the United Methodist Church in Sheldon.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home Sheldon, Iowa
ROGER W. SMITH

Roger Wayne Smith, the son of H.E. and Laura (Schlapkohl) Smith, was born June 20, 1929 in Fairmont, Minnesota. He lived his early childhood in Mankato, Minnesota and moved with his family to Sheldon, Iowa, when he was six years old where he attended school. While in school, he was very active in the vocal and instrumental music programs. Roger graduated from Sheldon High School in 1947. After high school he went into business with his father at Smith Manufacturing; they sold the business in 1961. Roger served in the Iowa Army National Guard for several years. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Halstrom on October 24, 1952 in the Oakdale Evangelical Free Church in rural Meriden, Iowa and they made their home in Sheldon. Roger joined the New York Life Insurance Company as a life underwriter in 1962. He was a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He qualified for New York Life Club membership each year while he was an active agent. He retired in 2004 after a number of health problems. Roger became a resident of the Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon in 2004; he passed away at the Senior Care on Monday, August 4, 2008, reaching the age 79 years, 1 month and 15 days.
Roger was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sheldon, the Sheldon Masonic Lodge, the Abu-Bekr Shrine Temple in Sioux City and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a member of the Northwest Iowa Life Underwriters, the Chicago Study Group of New York Life Agents from around the country. He had served as a member of the Sheldon Airport Commission for many years. He also served as a board member and president of the Northwest Iowa Technical College.
He enjoyed spending time at Lake Okoboji during the summer with the family. He and Phyllis also enjoyed their winter home in Sun City, Arizona, which was close to family and friends. His passion was hunting and fishing, an activity he enjoyed until his last few years, when he was physically unable to participate. He loved fishing for walleyes in Minnesota and Canada and salmon fishing in Alaska. Each fall he enjoyed goose hunting in South Dakota with clients and friends.
Roger is survived by his wife of 55 years, Phyllis of Sheldon; their three children and their spouses, Dr. Brad and Danna Smith of Scottsdale, Arizona; Pam and Dwight Pierce of Sheldon, Iowa; JoLynn and Scott Nulph of Peoria, Arizona; four grandchildren, Nicholas Pierce; Ashley Nulph; Alexander and Elizabeth Smith; a sister, Shirley Kruse of Emmetsburg, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents.