Merle Smith

Merle Smith, age 83, of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on May 10, 2023 at Midlands Living Center after a long illness. He was born on April 1, 1940 in Missouri Valley, Iowa to the late Floyd and Effie (Davis) Smith. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School with the class of 1958 and was united in marriage to the love of his life on December 3, 1963. To that marriage, they were blessed with six children. Merle was a meat cutter for 37 years at Rog and Scotty’s and also a machinist with Vickers Hydraulics for many years. He never met a stranger. Merle was a hardworking, kind, and generous man who loved giving his time to friends and family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dana; son, Geoff; twin brother, Marvin; siblings, Wilma, Bill, Mary Lee, Paul, Jim; and life long best friend, Daryl Gearhart.

Merle is survived by his children, Cheri (John) Mello of Omaha, NE, Greg Smith of Council Bluffs, Dawn Shell of Marble Hill, MO, Charise (Brad) Wilson of Camdenton, MO, Deann Rader of Council Bluffs; 15 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; siblings, Betty Garrison, Joe Smith, Donna Fickes, Wayne Smith; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation is Monday, May 15, 2023, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral service is Tuesday, May, 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m., also at the funeral home. Interment is in the Walnut Hill Cemetery.