Marvin C Smith

December 28, 1931 - February 14, 2017

Marvin Clifton Smith, the son of Clifton and Gertrude Vos Smith, was born December 28, 1931 in New Sharon, IA. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1949. Following high school, Marvin farmed west of Oskaloosa for 61 years until he moved in 2010 to Mill Pond in Ankeny, IA for health reasons. On June 30, 1955, Marvin was united in marriage to Helen Van Zee at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Ia. To this union they were blessed with one daughter Marla Joy (Smith) Knutson. Growing up, Marvin was active in 4-H and FFA. During this time, and into his adult life, he showed cattle locally at the county fair, the state fair, and in Chicago at the International Livestock Show. He was active in the Angus Association and Iowa Pork Producers where he enjoyed working on the Pork Tent Committee at the Iowa State Fair. Marvin also was a member of the Southern Iowa Fair Board where he promoted the fair and race night. His passion for agricultural was where he devoted his time for many years. Marvin enjoyed traveling with his family particularly to Colorado, Florida, Europe and Aruba. In the later years, he delighted in sharing times with his grandsons Matt and Ryan. Marvin was a baptized and confirmed member of the Central Reformed Church where he attended faithfully until his health failed. Marvin passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at Mill Pond at the age of 85 after a long battle with Parkinsonism. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Helen Smith, his daughter Marla and husband Steve, and grandson’s Ryan and Matthew Knutson, step grandson Craig and Julie Knutson; great grandchildren Braelyn and Alana Knutson. Marvin leaves one sister Erma Vander Linden, sister in laws Ilda Van Zee, and Joyce and Ray Vos; 4 nieces, 3 nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Gertrude and Clifton Smith; his parents-in-law William and Bertha Van Zee; his step-mother in law Etta(Netten) Jellama Van Zee; his brother-in-laws Herman VanderLinden and LeRoy Van Zee. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, Iowa with Pastor Jon Nelson officiating. Burial will follow the service at Forest Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Bates Funeral Home in Oskaloosa, Iowa at 10:00 am with the family present from 4 pm to 7 pm on Friday, February 17, 2017. Memorials may be made to Central Reformed Church, Mill Pond Presbyterian Home of Ankeny and Unity Point Hospice of Urbandale.