Alvin Smith

     Alvin Smith, age 84, of Fort Atkinson, IA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, IA, following a courageous battle with cancer.      Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2014, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, IA, with Rev. Nick March presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.    Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson, IA, and also after 9:00 a.m., Friday morning at St. Luke’s Catholic Church.      Alvin’s survivors include his wife of 59 years, Doris; five sons: Marv (Becky) Smith of Fort Atkinson, Roger (Emily) Smith of Eyota, MN, Gary (Barb) Smith and Jean (Kris) Smith of Calmar, Duane (Tammy) Smith of Lacey, WA; three daughters: Lois Smith (Bruce Sacquitne) of Decorah, Connie (Paul) Stevens of Ridgeway, Lynn (Leon) Arens of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law Shirley Smith of Calmar; twenty grandchildren: Abby Smith, Alexa (Adam) Procailo, Taylor Smith, Jared Smith, Roxanne Smith, Traci (Joel) Ridgway, Shana (Evan) Meyer, Mandi Smith (Leif Iverson), Kaitlin (Curtis) Grimm, Logan Smith, Dalton (Julie) Smith, Dakota Smith, Braxton Smith, Nicki (Curtis) Kleve, Jordan Stevens, Jess Stevens, Matthew Smith, Nathan Smith, Avery Arens and Ella Arens; and three great-grandchildren: Caleb Meyer, Emerson Ridgway and Ashlyn Smith; two sisters: Ida Ameling of Fort Atkinson and Margaret (Francis) Wurzer of Saint Lucas and Sisters-in-law: Sister Theophane Wurzer, Irma Hageman, Rosaria Einck, Alvina Hemesath-Murray, Alma Hemesath, and Evelyn Wurzer.      Alvin was preceded in death by his parents: Irvin and Agnes Smith, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Konrad and Barbara Wurzer; his sister, Bertha (Bud) Dority; and two sons, Ronald Smith in 1982 and Paul Smith in 2008. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Tony (Marcella) Wurzer, Edwin Wurzer, Ann (Roman) Kuennen, Carol (Lorraine) Wurzer, Alvin (Lorelie) (Carolyn) Wurzer, Florian Hageman, Norbert Einck, Eddie Hemesath, Jim Murray, Charlie Hemesath, LaVonne Dority and Clarence Ameling.