BERNARD LEE SMITH JR.
Waverly
Bernard Lee Smith Jr., 84, of Waverly, Iowa, died Friday, April 13, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly, with Pastor Carolyn Bowers and Pastor Sandra Burroughs officiating. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, and for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Private family burial will follow in Harlington Cemetery in Waverly.
Bernard is survived by his wife, Evelyn of Waverly; five children, Annette (Kirk) Weih of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Terry (David) Quigley of Shell Rock, Patricia Wayne of Janesville, Michael (Jody) Smith of Waverly and Peggy (Ross) Brase of Waverly; and 18 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard L. Sr. and Lucille (Hirsch) Smith; and a brother, Floyd Smith.
Bernard was born Feb. 22, 1934. On Jan. 27, 1952, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Barkhausen at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In 1952, Bernard began what would be a lifelong journey in the implement business when he went to work for Deike Implement in Waverly. In 1979, he took on the International Harvester dealership contract, and operated that business as Smith International until selling to Titan Machinery of Fargo, N.D., in 2005. Bernard continued to sell machinery through the Titan dealership until June 15, 2013, at which time he retired.
Bernard always loved selling, and one of his greatest joys was when he could make a sale to a young farmer and help him get started in farming. Selling combines was one of his greatest loves; during his peak, he would sell 50 new combines a year. He was recognized by International Harvester as the largest corn and soybean combine dealer in North America from 1983 to 1999. Over his career spanning 61 years, Bernard has sold to four generations of farmers.
Bernard currently was serving on the board of directors for Security State Bank, a post he has held for many years. He also was past president of the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association. He was an avid collector of tractors — both toy and full-size.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Waverly
Bernard Lee Smith Jr., 84, of Waverly, Iowa, died Friday, April 13, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly, with Pastor Carolyn Bowers and Pastor Sandra Burroughs officiating. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, and for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Private family burial will follow in Harlington Cemetery in Waverly.
Bernard is survived by his wife, Evelyn of Waverly; five children, Annette (Kirk) Weih of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Terry (David) Quigley of Shell Rock, Patricia Wayne of Janesville, Michael (Jody) Smith of Waverly and Peggy (Ross) Brase of Waverly; and 18 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard L. Sr. and Lucille (Hirsch) Smith; and a brother, Floyd Smith.
Bernard was born Feb. 22, 1934. On Jan. 27, 1952, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Barkhausen at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In 1952, Bernard began what would be a lifelong journey in the implement business when he went to work for Deike Implement in Waverly. In 1979, he took on the International Harvester dealership contract, and operated that business as Smith International until selling to Titan Machinery of Fargo, N.D., in 2005. Bernard continued to sell machinery through the Titan dealership until June 15, 2013, at which time he retired.
Bernard always loved selling, and one of his greatest joys was when he could make a sale to a young farmer and help him get started in farming. Selling combines was one of his greatest loves; during his peak, he would sell 50 new combines a year. He was recognized by International Harvester as the largest corn and soybean combine dealer in North America from 1983 to 1999. Over his career spanning 61 years, Bernard has sold to four generations of farmers.
Bernard currently was serving on the board of directors for Security State Bank, a post he has held for many years. He also was past president of the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association. He was an avid collector of tractors — both toy and full-size.
Memorials may be made to the family.
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