Obit:Smith, Earl Howard (1929 - 1998)

Contact: Betty Comstock

Email:  Comstock@Stateline-ISP.com     

Surnames:  Smith, Marten, Buker, Mondloch, Doherty,  Knoop

----Source: Marshfield News Herald  (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 03/18/1998

 Smith, Earl Howard  (23 FEB 1912 - 10 MAR 1998)

Earl H. Smith, age 69, of Neillsville, Wis. Died Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Earl Howard Smith was born on Feb. 23, 1929 in Bridge Cree, Eau Claire County, Wis. the son of Carl R. and Esther E. (Marten) Smith.  He attended Hay Creek and Fairchild Grade School and graduated from Humbird High School in 1949.  After graduation he worked for a short time before being drafted into the United States Army on Dec. 13, 1950.  Earl served as a Private 1^st  Class in the 127^th Airborne Engineer Battalion until he was discharged on Dec. 12, 1952.  After his discharge, he studied as a machinist apprentice in Beloit, Wis.  He then worked as a journeyman machinist at Fairbanks-Morse in Beloit.  On May 12, 1956 he was united in marriage to Donna Buker at the Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church in Greenwood, Wis.  They moved to Neillsville in 1958 and Earl worked briefly at Duane Felser’s service station.   In 1959 he began working for Fred Wall at Walls Service Station.  He worked there for several years and then became the Forester Aide for the Clark County Forestry Department.  In 1969 Earl became the Zoning Administrator for Clark County.  A position he held until his retirement in 1989.  Earl loved hunting and fishing and in his retirement enjoyed the flea markets.  He was well known for his woodworking abilities and sill gadgets he made over the years.  He was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church, a City Council member for seven years, during which time he served as the airport chairman and was instrumental in establishing the Neillsville airport.  Earl was also a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post 373 and the Wisconsin County Zoning Association.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; one son, Daniel (Peggy) of Rio, Wis.; three daughters; Charlotte Smith of Glens Falls, N.Y., Valerie (Neal) Mondloch of Prescott, Wis. and Paula (Eric) Doherty of Red Lodge, Mont.; four grandchildren; Riley and Robin Mondloch, Alexis Smith and Ian Doherty; his mother, Esther Smith; four brothers: Carl R. (Betty) Smith Jr. of Vesper, Wis., Marvin (Pat) Smith of Bullhead City, Ariz., Kenneth (Marilyn) Smith and Gordon (Mary) Smith, both of Stevens Point, Wis.; one sister, Arlys (Ervin) Knoop, of Neillsville, and many nephews and nieces.  Earl was preceded in death by his father and two sisters, Elaine and Arlene.

A Memorial Service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 16, 1998 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville, Pastor James Gordon officiated.  Music was provided by Eileen Zank, organist and Todd Wall, soloist.  Military rites were accorded by the Haugen-Richmond Post #73.  Visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Earl’s family who will designate a charity at a later date.