Information taken from the May 26, 1996 Decatur Alumni Banquet booklet

     After graduation in 1946 I started farming with my Dad.  IN the spring of 1951 I was drafted into the Army.  I was discharged from the Army in the spring of 1953, and went back to farming.  In the spring of 1954 my wife Darlene and I were married.  We have 3 sons:  Scott of Decatur, Jerry and wife, Peggy and w daughters live in Norfolk; and Joe also lives in Norfolk.

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September 17, 1928 - July 8, 2004

Funeral services were held for Edward J. Smith, Tuesday, July 13, 20904 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Decatur, Nebraska.  Rev. Brion P. Tolzman officiated.

Edward J. Smith passed away Thursday, July 8, 2004, surrounded by loving family, at his home in rural Decatur at the age of 75 years.

The organist at the service was Peggy Haeffner.  Thee was a visitation at the Hamel-Peck-Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah.  Military Honors were by VFW Gleason-Rogers Post No. 6926 and American Legion Rogers-Crum Post No. 215.  Burial was in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Decatur,.  Casket bearers were: Scott Smith, Jerry Smith, Joe Smith Keith Smith, Carl Raue and Larry Mussack.

Edward J. Smith was born September 17, 1928, in rural Decatur, NE, to Earl and Ruth (Elliot) Smith.    He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on February 28, 1953.

On June 6, 1954, Edward and Darlene Renz were united at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Homer, NE.  To this union three sons were born; Scott, Jerry and Joe.  Edward spent his entire life farming near Decatur.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Decatur, where he served on the church board.  He also served on the Decatur School Board for several years and was a member of the Rogers-Crum American Legion Post No. 215.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Alice Hopkins.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene of Decatur; sons and daughters-in-law; Scott Smith, of Decatur, Jerry and Peggy Smith and Joe Smith all of Norfolk; two granddaughters; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Phyllis Smith of Decatur; brother-in-law, Jim Hopkins, of Decatur, many nephews, nieces and a host of friends.

Funeral arrangements were taken care of by Hamel-Peck-Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah, NE

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