Obituary of Kenneth William Smith

WATERLOO – Kenneth W. Smith, 82, of Waterloo, NY, passed peacefully surrounded by his family, Sunday (December 12, 2021) at Geneva General Hospital. In keeping with the wishes of the family, there will be no calling hours. The memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday (December 18) at First Lutheran Church, 35 Broad Street, Lyons, NY with a luncheon to follow. Masks will be required for all in attendance. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to First Lutheran Church, 2 Sunset Drive, Lyons, NY 14489. Ken was born March 3, 1939, in Sarver, PA, the son of Tilmer F. and Lida L. Freehling Smith. At a young age, he began working alongside his parents and siblings on their family dairy farm, where he learned many of his most notable attributes – hard work, a deep appreciation for the land, and the ingenuity that comes from making do with what you have. He had an innate mechanical ability and an aptitude for anything that required a tool or working with his hands. After graduating from Freeport Area High School in 1957, Ken immediately went to work in the agricultural sector. For eight years, he formed a partnership selling and servicing farm equipment. He then worked with White Farm Equipment as a technical service representative for 12 years and was most recently employed as a sales representative with Athens Plow Company. Ken met and married the love of his life, Alice, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeport, PA, on June 29, 1968. They moved from Pennsylvania to New York in 1973, shortly thereafter starting their family and settling into their treasured neighborhood in Waterloo. Their life together was filled with picnics, dinner gatherings, road trips, and anything to support their children. Ken's agrarian foundation and devotion to family was only surpassed by his deep faith, which he demonstrated through his dutiful attendance at and engagement in the work of First Lutheran Church. He lived his religious values throughout his life. He treated everyone with respect, acted with integrity, and always gave of his time and talent to others. What people may remember most about Ken is that he excelled at connecting with people. He cultivated and maintained relationships for decades with almost everyone whose path he had crossed. He had a regular routine of calls he made to innumerable friends and family to converse and check on their well-being. Ken is survived by and will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 53 years, Alice E. Smith; daughters Amy (Randy Koontz) Smith of Phoenix, AZ and Renee (David) Mooneyhan of Moravia, NY; step-grandsons Connor and Colin Mooneyhan; brother Glenn Smith of Sarver, PA; sister Grace (Richard) Grimm of Butler, PA; aunt Leona Barnes of Cabot, PA; in-laws Terence and Ruth Shaffer, and William and Rebecca Shaffer; the Reverend Arthur Sziemeister a special family member; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends. Ken was predeceased by his parents; brother Ronald L. Smith; and sister-in-law Adelee Smith. Condolences and remembrances may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.