August 18, 1942 – February 11, 2026
Steven F. Smith, 83, of Northwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Just months after the passing of his beloved wife, Patricia, Steve’s heart was ready to be with her again. After 63 years of marriage and a lifetime spent side by side, it seems only fitting that he would follow her lead once more, never a Valentine’s Day alone.
A time to greet friends and relatives will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 1st Ave. South, Northwood, IA. Inurnment will take place at Sunset Rest Cemetery. The celebration of his life will continue afterward at The Timbers.
Born August 18, 1942, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Curtis C. and Evelyn Marie (Mewhirter) Smith, Steve graduated from Cresco High School and carried with him the work ethic of the generations before him. He was self-taught, self-made, and the culmination of lessons learned from his father and grandfather, men who showed him what hard work meant and how to do it well.
His greatest story began on a dance floor in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1961, when he met Patricia. They danced that night and for the next 63 years. Married on December 17, 1961, at Prospect Sacred Heart Catholic Church, they built a life rooted in promise. Steve believed wholeheartedly in the sacredness of marriage. It was something you fought for. Like a fire, sometimes burning hot and bright, sometimes reduced to embers, but always something worth tending, worth protecting, and worth keeping alive.
A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Steve served aboard the USS Constellation, completing three tours to Vietnam during the war. Years later, he and Patricia had the honor of participating in a Tiger Cruise aboard the Constellation and attending its retirement, moments that brought his service full circle. When his son, Steve Jr., followed in his footsteps and served his career in the Navy, it was a deep and personal pride.
Wherever life led, New York, the West Coast, Ohio, back to New York, Iowa, Minnesota, and finally Northwood, home was never a location. It was wherever Patricia and the kids were.
Professionally, Steve’s brilliant and resourceful mind shaped a quiet legacy. He worked at NCR and later IBM before learning organ repair at Tyler-Ryan in Mason City. During those early years in organ repair, Steve met Jay Pedelty. What began as mentorship soon became something much deeper. Jay became one of Steve’s closest confidants and lifelong friends. Their bond extended beyond business into family life, with Judy and Patricia forming their own cherished friendship, becoming an extension of Steve’s tight-knit family. Eventually, he founded Smith’s Organ Services, later Organ and Sound Services, and for more than 45 years served churches, funeral homes, schools, and community spaces throughout the region. His large garage was both workshop and gathering place. He meticulously routed wiring, finished speaker cabinetry, perfected placement for ideal acoustics, and served as the area’s Peavey Sound Equipment dealer. Throughout his career he worked closely with Dewey Kruger Music, and was instrumental in completing many area systems, including that at the NIACC Auditorium. His work impacted thousands, even if most never knew his name.
Steve sold the business in the early 2000s to enjoy retirement alongside Patricia, but never truly retired. He was always just a phone call away.
In fact, his family called him “Super Steve.” If something was broken, he was the first call. With little more than pliers and electrical tape, he could fix nearly anything, or at least talk you through it over the phone. He was fearless, willing to try anything, cook anything, and go anywhere at least once. He once took night classes at NIACC alongside his son, learning Machine Language when it was still uncommon knowledge, skills he continued using throughout his life.
But more than mechanical skills, Steve gave his family something deeper. As his son so beautifully said, “He gave those he loved a toolbox”, filled with skills, talents, confidence, and determination. Over the years he added different tools, common ones and specialized ones, knowing that as they faced the future without him, they would have what they needed to keep growing. He was a patient mentor who believed in teaching, not doing. He might fix it once, but you were going to learn how to fix it next time. Even the grandkids learned life lessons, like how to properly pour a glass of scotch: three fingers, one ice cube. “He has to learn sometime. Might as well learn from me.”
Steve was the cornerstone of his family, the steady presence they leaned on, the one they called weekly, and the voice of nonjudgmental wisdom and humor. He followed their lives closely, even watching their favorite television series just to stay connected. He took their victories personally and walked them through their struggles. When they were together, laughter, deep, body-shaking laughter, was inevitable, even in difficult times.
In 1999, Steve and Patricia built and moved into their current home, creating another chapter of shared memories. They treasured time at their cabin in northern Minnesota, surrounded by water, woods, dogs at their feet, most recently Buddy and Duke, and family filling the space with life. In retirement, they thrived. They traveled. They rode their bicycles side by side through fields, mountains, beaches, and winding back roads. They danced in their kitchen simply because music was playing. They loved retirement, but more than that, they loved being together.
To know Steve was to know loyalty. To love him was to feel steady and protected. He was a beacon of strength, a quiet hero, and a man who believed you could do anything if you were willing to work for it, and who made sure you had the tools to try.
Though his absence is deeply felt, we smile knowing Steve has found Patricia again. Somewhere, there is music playing and they are dancing in their heavenly kitchen.
The days were long, but the years were oh so very short.
Surviving are his children, Steven (Diane) Smith Jr. of Gilbert, AZ, Stacey (Michael) Johnson of Waverly, and Shana (Lynn) Butler of Northwood; beloved grandchildren, Curtis (Danielle) Smith and their children, CJ and Sophia; Spencer (Tiffany Rose) Smith and their children, Davina and Mason; Matthew Smith; Kristin (Valerie) Rubio; Emily Grace (Will Rivera Jr.) Smith; Kayla (Wesley) Sutton and their child, Paxton; Kelsey (Luke) Cariveau and their child, Clementine; Marlee (Anthony) Rasmusson and their children, Brooks, Jayla, and Presley; Logan (Casey) Butler and their children, Evelyn and Olivia; siblings, Curtis “Mark” (Beverly) Smith, Suzie (Bruce) Stone, and Nancy (Curt) Cooley; Patricia’s siblings, Jane Apicella and George (Sue) Mega; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Patricia; his parents; Patricia’s parents, Henry Louis and Francis Jane (Evans) Mega; and brother-in-law, Bob (Sue) Mega.
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