Note: veteran Navy, WW2 and Korea

Clarence A. Smith, Jr., 68

Services were Sunday, May 28 at Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church for Clarence A. Smith, Jr. who died May 24, 1989. Interment was in Fort Calhoun Cemetery.

Clarence Smith, Jr. was born on February 8, 1921 in Omaha to Clarence and Ella Smith. He spent most of his boyhood in the Fort Calhoun area, graduating from Fort Calhoun High School in 1939. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Omaha University in 1942.

He enlisted in the Navy on December 21, 1941 and upon graduation attended officers training school at Northwestern University, then served in active duty until 1946 when he went into the reserves. He was called back to active duty until 1946 for the Korean conflict. Having served 23 years, active and reserve duty, he retired as a full captain.

He married Agnes Lynn Stephenson April 26, 1945 and they resided in Omaha until 1969 when he bought a farm near Fort Calhoun.

He loved sports and was active on the community baseball team for many years.

He owned and operated Dectation Systems Co. for some fifteen years, was then employed at Omaha Public Power District until he retired on February 28, 1989.

He served on the Ft. Calhoun Board of Education for 15 years, all of them as president. He was instrumental in the building of the new Fort Calhoun High School. During his service, the school tripled to over 600 students, and he helped oversee its accreditation.

He was enjoying his retirement because he dearly loved his farming, which he finally got to do full time.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes; sons and daughters-in-law, Reed and Doris; Brad and Linda; Tad and Vicki; a daughter and her husband, Margaret and Stan Pokorney; eight grandchildren; a brother, Jack, Escondido, California; a sister, Frances Lee, Athens, Ohio; and nieces and nephews.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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