Gerald Smith
October 26, 1935 - April 24, 2025
Obituary
Gerald F. “Jerry” Smith, age 89, of Darlington, WI, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lafayette Hospital & Clinics in Darlington. He was born October 26, 1935 in Darlington, the son of Benjamin and Phyllis (Ward) Smith. Jerry lived in the Darlington area his entire life and graduated from Darlington High School in 1954. He was united in marriage to Carol Mosley on September 20, 1958 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington. He dedicated all of his working years to farming, where he instilled the concept of hard work and dedication into his children and grandchildren.
Jerry is survived by his wife Carol at home; his children: Deborah (Sheldon) Kranhenbuhl, Steve (LuAnn) Smith, Tom (Stacey) Smith, and Bill (Jamie) Smith all of rural Darlington; his grandchildren: Bryan (Jada) Krahenbuhl, Elisa (Jeffrey) Mathys, Kara (Jacob) Scott, Shawni (Bryan) Dee, Heath (Laura) Smith, Jesse Smith, James Ackley, and Frankie Smith; 14 great-grandchildren; three siblings; Marilyn Siegenthaler, Ruth Ann (Kenny) Peterson, and John Smith; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one granddaughter: Sadie Smith.
Jerry was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and a former member of the church council. He was also a former Lamont Township Board Member, and the Lafayette FS Board. Jerry was always exceptionally proud of the work he did on the farm with his sons, more specifically the time he spent chisel plowing, and going to farm sales. He also loved to horseback ride with his children when they were young. He kept himself up to date with current events in the agricultural world by reading farm magazines and papers and visiting every farm implement dealer he could to look at equipment. Even after retirement, Jerry loved to check in on the farm activities, something he did until the very end. If he wasn’t farming, Jerry loved to play 500 with a group of friends for 25 years, and always enjoyed going out to dinner with the card club once a month. He was also an avid Packers, Badgers, Brewers & Redbird fan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (104 E. Harriet St., Darlington) with Fr. Thomas Coyle officiating. Burial will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday, April 28, 2025, from 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and on Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at the church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to LuAnn Donahoe and Sentinal Home Care for their excellent care of Jerry.
Events
Mass of Christian Burial
Tue Apr 29, 2025 @ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 104 E Harriet St, Darlington, WI 53530
Visitation
Tue Apr 29, 2025 @ 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 104 E Harriet St, Darlington, WI 53530
Visitation
Mon Apr 28, 2025 @ 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 104 E Harriet St, Darlington, WI 53530
Photos
No photos of Gerald have been shared yet.
Memories
LM
Lori Murphy
Friend • 1 day ago
Condolences to the Entire Smith Family. Lots of memories when you lived in Lamont and through 4-H. Lori Zimmerman Murphy/Scott Zimmerman/Margaret Zimmerman
AO
Amy Pratt Oppriecht
Friend • 1 day ago
Billy and family, you have my deepest sympathy!
SB
Sherie Kemp Bruce
Friend • 2 days ago
He was always Mr. Smith to me. I was young and impressionable. I spent a great part of my life on the Godfrey farm learning and working. From the time I can remember I was with my dad Bruce Kemp and my Uncle Jack Day. I did whatever they asked me, and I did learn a lot from them: Scraping and painting barns and outbuildings, moving wood and supplies, fencing, roofing, picking water cress out of the streams. I spent a lot of my older years detassling corn and taking care of my grandparents Mary Lavinia Day and Ernest Everett Day. However, I learned a lot of life lessons from observing Mr. Smith. He probably never knew how important he was to me or the impact he had on my life. He let me in the barns to observe the milking process, play with the barn cats, showed me how to clean out the silos (not my fav), play in the corn silo, hold new life with the piglets, watch new calves being born, watching artificial insemination and allowing me to ride his horses. He taught me by allowing me to be an observer and sometimes a participant in real time. I also observed him in other ways; how early he got up and was working the farm, how late he stayed up working the fields, haying, how to watch the weather and how it could make or break the seasons. I observed how much he loved his family and what a great father he was, friend to others and husband. I know there are many more things. I was always considered a "city girl", but I loved that farm he took care of more than any other place on earth to this day. It was never the same after he left. In summation, he taught me real science, perservance, hard work with no thanks needed, a few curse words, but mostly a love for life. To Mr. Smith, thank you for who you were. To the family, rejoice and celebrate this amazing man's life. If you are a Christian know that it is only a matter of time until you will be reunited in Heaven. To Mr. Smith, thank you for being a large part of shaping the person I am. Rest now God has you in the palm of His hand. Sherie Kemp-Bruce
RV
Ray and Jean VanMatre
Friend • 2 days ago
Our deepest sympathies to the family of Jerry. We remember him always having a smile on his face and something light-hearted to say. May it help in some small way to know that others share your grief. Most sincerely, Ray and Jean VanMatre
MH
Msrion Howard
Friend • 3 days ago
My sincere sympathy to all the Smith family. May God bring you comfort and Peace.
SS
Scott and Barb Siegenthaler
Friend • 4 days ago
Jerry was an excellent farmer and good neighbor and friend! Barb and I send our sympathies to the families!