TAMA-Kathleen E. Smith, age 85, a resident of Carrington Place in Toledo, formerly of Tama, died Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at the care center under the care of Iowa Hospice following a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Private Interment will be held at Grandview Cemetery in rural Tama. Visitation will be held Friday, February 6, 2009 from 4 – 8 PM at the Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Kathleen was born on July 22, 1923, in Columbia Township, rural Tama, the daughter of Henry Nelson and Mary (Miller) Bidwell.
On July 1, 1940, she was united in marriage to Leonard Marvin Smith in Lancaster, Missouri. The couple farmed south of Tama. She retired from Amana Refrigeration after seventeen years of service. She was a member of Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary in Tama. Kathleen enjoyed being with her family. She also enjoyed antiques, bingo, flower gardening, sewing and cooking. Kathleen resided at Carrington Place for the last four years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard on June 4, 1999; one grandson, Clarence Smith; one great-granddaughter, Savannah Arp; two brothers, Gaylord Bidwell and Olin Bidwell; two sisters, Arlene Kriegel and Maxine Haynes.
Survivors include five children, Vernon E. (Joan) Smith of Tama, Ronald D. (Jan) Smith of Tama, Wendell D. (Marlys) Smith of Gilman, Wanda E. (Dean) Arp of Auburn, Washington, and Lloyd N. (Toni) Smith of Tama; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Virgil Bidwell of Tama.