Marvin Lee Smith

Marvin Lee Smith, son of Murl and Viola (Newton) Smith, was born November 1, 1938 in Defiance, Iowa. He was baptized at the Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church in Defiance. He attended school in Irwin, Iowa.

As a teen, Marvin worked for various farmers, detasseling and bailing hay. His love for motorcycles began at an early age. The first one was when he hooked up a 2 horsepower gas motor to a bicycle at age 14. He rode it all over Defiance and to other towns as well. Over the years, Marvin owned 12 motorcycles.

At age 18, he moved to Council Bluffs. He got a job at Eaton Metal Company in Omaha.

He was drafted into the US Army and had basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While home on leave on December 30, 1961, Marvin married Rosella Woltzen in Cumberland. They were married by her father, who was a Baptist minister.

After his leave, he was sent to Frankfurt, Germany. He worked as a mechanic and drove maintenance trucks. He also earned a Sharp Shooter Metal. After his honorable discharge in 1963, he returned to Eaton Metal Company, where he worked for about 30 years until the company closed. He then worked at McIntyre Oldsmobile Cadillac, in Council Bluffs, as a courtesy driver. By the time he retired, he knew the streets of Omaha and Council Bluffs very well.

Marvin and Rosella belonged to a Christian Motorcycle Club. Through the years, they have gone hundreds of miles in all different directions on the club trips. They enjoyed being around their nieces and nephews, doing ceramics, and taking guitar lessons. They loved gospel music and were active in the Baptist Church.

Marvin suffered his first stroke in 2008 and could no longer drive his motorcycles, but was able to return to driving his car. Marvin bought himself a trike and loved it. He was able to drive it until he suffered a stroke on February 15, 2014. He moved to Manilla Manor in October of 2015 and really like it there.

He passed away at the Manilla Manor on November 11, 2018. He was preceeded in death by his parents; his wife of 50 years, Rosella; sister, Mildred Gehlsen and her husband, Bill, of Carroll, IA; brother, Paul and his wife, Lavinia, of Knoxville, IA; brother, Bob, of Johnstown, CO.

He is survived by his sister, Marjorie Benge and her husband, John, of Manilla, IA; sister-in-law, Cindy Smith, of Johnstown, CO.; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation is 12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m. on Wednesday at the Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral Services is 1:00p.m. on Wednesday also at the Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. Interment is in Ridgewood Cemetery.
Family will direct the memorials.