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Wayne B. Smith, 65

Jan 27, 2013

Wayne B. Smith

Rochester The funeral for Wayne Bruce Smith was held Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Rochester Covenant Church. The Rev. Herb Frost and Rev. Wes Gabel officiated. Military rites were provided by American Legion Post 92 after the service. Macken Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Wayne, age 65, of Rochester, died in his home of natural causes on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2013.

A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Wayne had a big heart and lived life in constant, thankful service to others.

Wayne was born Dec. 12, 1947, in Winnebago, to Clarence and Beatrice (Anderson) Smith. He graduated from Huntley High School in 1965 and later attended technical school for electronics in Mankato. He then enlisted in the Navy and served from 1968 to 1971, with two tours of Vietnam on the U.S.S. Decatur and 13 months at McMurdo Station in Antarctica in electronics support for international scientists.

On Nov. 6, 1971, he and Joleta Ann Hervey were married in Winnebago. He later earned his Associates Degree in electronics from Rochester Community College. Wayne was employed by Mayo Clinic, IBM, Maysteel, and the History Center of Olmsted County in addition to running his own landscaping business.

Wayne was an active member of Rochester Covenant Church, the Rochester Male Chorus, the Mechanical History Roundtable and the Elks Club. As an avid volunteer, Wayne took church mission trips to the Appalachias, Chile, and Chicago. He participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He was also active with the Youth Mentorship Program.

Wayne enjoyed creative woodworking, gardening, home improvement projects, and travel with Joleta. They visited China, New Zealand, Chile, and more in the past decade. Wayne took special joy in playing with his two grandsons.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Joleta (Hervey) Smith; son, Aaron (girlfriend, Katie Lundgren), of Madison, Wis.; daughter, Megan (Smith) Fisher (husband, Jeremy), and grandsons, Zane and Jack, of Golden Valley; sisters, Eileen DiMarco, of Genoa City, Wis., and Margaret (Ron) Fosdick, of Burlington, Wis.; sister-in-law, Pam Mathiason, of Rochester; brother-in-law, Dwight (Dedra) Hervey, of Winnebago; eight nieces and nephews; and five great-nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother-in-law, Merlin Mathiason.

Memorials to Paws and Claws Humane Society or Next Chapter Ministries are welcome.?Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com