John “Jack†F. Smith, 86, of Kearney died Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at his home in Kearney.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney. Father Art Faesser and Father Jack Schlaf will concelebrate and burial will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Military rites at the cemetery will be provided by the Kearney American Legion Post #52, the Kearney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #759 and the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and also one hour prior to services on Saturday. A Christian Wake Service will be held on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to St. James Catholic Church or the Kearney Catholic High School Foundation. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements.
Jack was born on August 21, 1929 in Overton, NE. His parents were Omar and Nell (Brennan) Smith. He attended school in the Kearney area and graduated from Kearney High School. Jack served his country as an engineer in the United States Navy. He was decorated with a purple heart during the Korean War. He was united in marriage to Darlene F. Ripp on October 21, 1952 in Eddyville, NE. Jack retired from General Telephone Company in Kearney as a Field Engineer in 1987. He was an active member of the new Catholic Community of Kearney and a charter member of the new Prince of Peace Parish in Kearney. Jack was a Lifetime member of the Kearney American Legion Post #52, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. He was a past member of the Kearney Elks Lodge #984. Jack was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, planting and harvesting an annual garden at his acreage. During recent years, he hosted weekly gatherings with his family and numerous friends.
Surviving relatives include his sons; Blase Smith and his wife Theresa of Kearney and John Smith of Roanoke, TX, daughters; Anita Huddleston and her husband Lee of Kearney, Denise Coughlin and her husband Jack of Kearney, Darla Langenberg and her husband Bart of Kearney, grandchildren; Sarah Huddleston and her husband Mike Giboney of Kearney, Hunter Smith of Kearney and Lee Langenberg of Kearney, great grandchild; Brynn Giboney of Kearney and his brother; Don Smith of Kearney.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Darlene and his granddaughter, Sydney Smith. |