Jerry William Smith, 81, of Dubuque, died Monday, June 14, 2021, at Luther Manor in Dubuque, after several years battling cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Visitation will be from 9:00 am until 11:00 am, Monday, June 21, 2021 at Tri-State Community Church, 12937 Derby Grange Rd., Dubuque.

The funeral service for Jerry will immediately follow the visitation at 11:00 am Monday at the church with Pastor Jack Redmond officiating. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery. The service will be live streamed on Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home’s Facebook page and will also be available to view later at www.hskfhcares.com.

Jerry was born March 31, 1940, in Sumner, IA, the son of Carl and Shirley (McIntyre) Smith. In 1946, he attended school in Donnan, a country school (Windsor #3) near Hawkeye, the same school his mother attended. Jerry attended West Union North High School, where he graduated May 29, 1958. He went on to study two years at Iowa State University from 1958 – 1961, with a concentration in physics, later completing his degree at Clarke University in the spring of 1990 with his Bachelors in Computer Science.

Jerry began working at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids as a computer operator while his future wife, Betty Peterson, worked in the library. They later attended a YMCA/YWCA dance together, which developed into their getting married on October 10, 1964. Jerry also worked at CyCare as a computer operator and then later for APAC in insurance sales.

He was known for his genuine kindness. Jerry never said a bad word about anyone and appreciated peoples’ differences. He enjoyed family history/genealogy, learning about foreign languages and cultures, traveling the United States, and playing postcard chess with people from other countries. He also had a vast collection of books. Most of all, Jerry loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren so much.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Smith of Dubuque; daughter, Kathy (Pat) Connolly; granddaughter, Nicole (Jacob) Bahl; great-grandson, George Bahl; great-grandson, Arthur Bahl; daughter, Linda (Maureen McDermott) Smith; granddaughter, Kim (Linas) Saulys; great-granddaughter, Vaiva Saulys; great-grandson, Dovas Saulys; son, Ken (Chi) Smith; granddaughter, Anna Smith; granddaughter, Sophia Smith; son, Bryan (Martha) Smith; granddaughter, Emily (fiancé, Austin Bostic) Smith; granddaughter, Bethany Smith; granddaughter, Vivian Smith; daughter, Sandra (Jamie) Leick; granddaughter, Leah Leick; grandson, Andrew Leick; brother, Dennis (Jane) Smith of Ames, IA; sister-in-law, Arlene Smith of Onalaska, WI; and brother, Kevin (Kristin DeNike) Smith of Bettendorf, IA.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Steve and Donald; one sister, Judy; and his in-laws, Clifford and Goldie Peterson.

The family would like to extend a great appreciation to Hospice of Dubuque, Paramount Ambulance and the entire staff at Luther Manor.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in care of the arrangements.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences sent to the family by visiting Jerry’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.