June 23, 1933 – January 29, 2026
Gary Lowell Smith, 92, of Manly, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.
A memorial service for Gary and his wife, Norita, will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E. Spring St., Manly, Iowa 50456, with Pastor Cory Allard officiating. A memorial visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place in Spring time at Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Pioneer Town & Country Club in Manly.
Gary was born on June 23, 1933, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Harry and Margaret (Hawkins) Smith. He grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1951.
After high school, Gary enlisted in the United States Air Force on August 27, 1952. He completed basic training at Parks Air Force Base in California, followed by armament school at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, where he worked on B-29 bombers. He often recalled nearly falling from a wing during training, only to be told by a sergeant to “dust it off” and keep going.
Gary was later deployed to Korea, traveling by ship from San Francisco and proudly recalling that he passed both under and over the Golden Gate Bridge. He served in Korea from 1952 to 1953 as an F-86 fighter armament specialist, responsible for loading guns and bombs on aircraft. The war ended while he was stationed there, a moment he liked to joke meant he “ended the war.” During his service, he visited Seoul, where he purchased a Parker pen set that was later pickpocketed, a story he never forgot.
Following his return to the United States, Gary was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, where he worked on B-47 bombers. As a Corporal, he was in charge of loading weapons onto the aircraft. He proudly served during the Korean War, earning the Korean Service Medal, and was honorably discharged on August 26, 1956, with the rank of Airman First Class.
On August 27, 1956, Gary was united in marriage to the love of his life, Norita Goerke.
Following his honorable discharge, Gary attended Mankato State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and continued his studies toward a master’s degree in science. He spent most of his career as a high school science teacher, a profession he took great pride in and through which he influenced countless students. Gary loved being the high school golf coach and sharing his enthusiasm for the game. He didn’t stop there, Gary was always ready to coach anyone he played with, whether they wanted it or not. As he approached retirement, he continued sharing his knowledge as a chemistry lab instructor at North Iowa Area Community College.
In his free time, Gary enjoyed golfing, collecting guns and antiques, and fishing, though he was the first to admit he wasn’t especially lucky at it. During his retirement years, he especially treasured golfing with his wife, Norita, and traveling, particularly winter trips to Texas with close friends. He was a longtime member of the Manly VFW as well at Manly’s Bethel United Methodist Church.
Known for being very talkative, friendly, and an avid storyteller, Gary never met a stranger. He was deeply proud of his grandchildren and the education they worked so hard to achieve, and he delighted in sharing their accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
Gary is survived by his children, Scott (Amy) Smith, Grant (Kymari) Smith, and Rhonda (Dave) Bruxvoort; grandchildren, Cameron (Carissa), Rachel, Conner, Dillon (Jess), Samson, Max, and Jack; great-grandchildren, Julia and Dawson; niece, Karen Wornicki; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Norita Smith; parents, Harry and Margaret Smith; his parents-in-law, Frank and Doris Goerke; siblings, Jack, Robert, Barbara, Betty, Donald, and Mona; sisters-in-law, Elaine Wornicki and Eleanor (Frank) Groomes; and niece, Theresa Holly.
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