Karla Smith

In Loving Memory of Karla Kay Smith

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Karla Kay Smith. She passed away peacefully on May 24, 2024 at the age of 80. It was Karla wish to donate her body to science at the University of Iowa Medical School. 

Karla was born on June 10, 1943 in Charles City, Iowa. She grew up in a loving home with her mother Leona, father Norman, and three sisters, Karen, Kathleen, and Kristeen. She graduated from Charles City High School in 1961. Upon graduation she enrolled in the Michael Reese School of Nursing in Chicago, IL. She later went on to pursue a career specializing in Labor and Delivery.

Upon graduation from nursing school, Karla felt the tug of servant leadership and joined the Peace Corps. Her service in the Corps took her around the country for training and, ultimately, to Brazil, where she lived and worked in local villages for 3 years, assisting the local doctors as a Labor and Delivery nurse.

Once her commitment to the Peace Corps came to an end, Karla returned to the United States to marry the love of her life, Bill Smith on December 30, 1967. Together, she and Bill would raise four sons, Steven, Scott, Kirk and Kent, who were her absolute pride and joy. In 1981, Karla joined the Labor and Delivery department at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs where she would work for 30 years before retiring in 2011. Over the years, she assisted in the delivery of thousands of babies, and it wasn't uncommon for her to run into someone she had cared for, or delivered, while running errands around town.

Karla was an incredibly dedicated and hardworking woman, who always put her family first. She was a pillar of strength and support for her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends. She was first in line to help a family member in need, and she was always there to listen, offer advice, or just provide a shoulder to lean on.

She had a passion for gardening, game playing, traveling and, most of all, her family. She loved spending as much time as possible with all of the members of her family, both immediate and extended, and always made sure at least a few games were played during visits. Karla particularly enjoyed spending time with her sisters and made it a point to see them anytime the opportunity presented itself.

She also took great pride in her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, relishing the opportunity to share the bounty of her harvest with neighbors, friends, and her church congregation. Rarely would a week in the summer go by that she didn't have tomatoes to offer to anyone who would take them.

Karla is preceded in death by her mother, Leona Hallberg, her father, Norman Hallberg, her sister, Kristeen Boyd, and her grandson, Gabriel Smith. Her memory will live on through her husband, Bill Smith, children, Steven (Michelle), Scott, Kirk (Teresa) and Kent (Nikki), her grandchildren, Nicklaus (Andrea), Tylar (Danzel), Peyton, Mia, Cara and Alyssa, her great-grandson Coen, her sisters, Karen and Kathy (Mel), her great-aunt JoAnn, and her beloved nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held from 9:00am - 10:00am, Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, IA. 

Celebration of Life will be at 10:00am, Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, IA. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs or the Methodist/Jennie Edmundson Labor and Delivery Department through the Jennie Edmundson Foundation in Karla's memory.