Michael John Smith

Nora Springs Michael John Smith, born December 7, 1948 in Nora Springs, Iowa died January 18, 2009 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit with his family at his side after a courageous three year battle with cancer. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with a Masonic Service at 6:30 PM. Memorial services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce Avenue, Mason City with the Rev. Paul Collier officiating. Inurnment at Rock Grove Cemetery in Nora Springs will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Michael J. Smith memorial fund in care of the family.
Mike, son of John L. and Doris M. (Hagen) Smith, attended school and graduated in Nora Springs. He was confirmed at St. Lukes Lutheran Church.
After finally convincing the love of his life, Diane Annie DePrenger to marry him, they were wed December 28, 1969. Mike was a dedicated railroad man, and worked as a locomotive engineer for nearly forty years with the Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern; Chicago & Northwestern; and Union Pacific. Mikes greatest joys were his family (particularly his grandchildren), fixing everything (and passing on that knowledge to others), and classic cars. He was a member of the Rock Sirius Masonic Lodge and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
He is survived by his wife, Annie Smith; children, Kelly Arickx [Paul], Brandy Smith [Jon Branstad], and Stacy Hoard [Charles]; grandchildren, Emma, Samuel, Sadie, Margaret, Ava, Eric, Allie, and Kayla; siblings, Ron Smith, Jae Lea True [Gary], Randy Smith [Candy], and Terry Smith [Sharri]; brother-in-law, Dan DePrenger [Barbara Forbes]; mother-in-law, Donna DePrenger; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. Bud and Doris M. Smith and father-in-law, Donald K. DePrenger.