Funeral services for Duane Smith, 95, of Greene will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Greene Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Joan Thomas presiding. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Friday, at Counsell Woodley Funeral Home, Greene with a Scripture Wake Service at 7:00 p.m.. Counsell Woodley Funeral Home in Greene is caring for Duane and his family.
Duane Laverne Smith was born May 2, 1928, on a farm near Greene, Butler County, Iowa, to Leslie Laverne and Lula Margarette (Elliott) Smith. He died peacefully July 23, 2023, at home, surrounded by his family.
Since there was no rural school in the district, he started 1st grade in the Greene Public School and graduated from there in 1946. In High School he played in all sports. He liked football best and played on the 1944 team that went undefeated and untied. In classes he liked shop- working with wood. During his freshman year he built a boat, and since the family lived near the river, he had many good times with it. He drove his sister, Dorlene, and brother, Bob, and neighbor girls, Twila and Darlene Dix, to school during his high school days. He used to say that he drove his wife to school when she was in 8th grade.
After graduating he attended Upper Iowa University for one semester, but was interested in getting started in farming. At this time D.H. Ellis offered to rent his farm to Duane. On December 28, 1947 Twila Dix, love of his life, and Duane were married at the Presbyterian Church in Greene. They moved on the farm March 1, 1948 and it became their lifelong home. Twila and Duane were blessed with 68 years of marriage and six children.
With the registered Holstein herd, other livestock and crops it was a busy place. There was hay to make, milking to be done, fences to fix, cultivating, harvesting and more hay to make. Duane and Twila farmed in partnership with Mr. Ellis for 17 years. When Ellis died in 1965, they were able to buy the farm from Elis’ daughter.
In 1984 after 36 years of dairying they sold the cows. They took golf lessons and began a new life together, golfing in Bella Vista, AR each year in the spring and fall, many couples’s tournaments around the area, lots of Friday night potlucks. After Twila passed, Duane became famous for his cheesy potatoes for the potlucks. Duane’s other hobby was making beautiful creations from wood – lamp tables, a hutch, decorative wooden bowls, rocking chairs for his granddaughters’ dolls and many other items.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren in Greene, serving as Deacon, Chairman of the Board and other offices. He was a board member and secretary of the Co-op Creamery and served as board member of the Country Club.
Duane is survived by daughters: Christine Baker, Greene; Melinda Smith, Greene; Becky (Jerry) Shultz, Estherville; Cathy (Jerome) Marzen, Rodgersvill, MO; sons: David Smith, Greene: Scott (Pat) Smith, Urbana; 12 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; sister-in-law: Margaret Smith, Greene; brother-in-law: Kenny Miller, Cedar Falls and many nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his loving wife, Twila in 2015; his parents; sister Dorlene Miller; brother Robert Smith; granddaughters Joy Marie Baker, Heather Joy Miller and Libby Smith; great great grandson Jace Mooney.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Greene Volunteer Fire Department or St. Croix Hospice.
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