In Loving Memory of

Rev. Alvin H. Smith

Alvin Harold Smith was born June 6, 1931 to Harold and Betty Smith near Monroe, Nebraska and passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska on December 17, 2016 at the age of 85 years, 6 months, 11 days. Alvin attended school at rural Okay District 32 north of Monroe. It was in this school house that he completed the 10th grade. Alvin farmed with his parents for four years. During this time the call of God came to enter the Christian Ministry. Alvin completed high school at Genoa, Nebraska. Then he entered Westmar College to prepare for the ministry. He served Pleasant Hill and Vermillion Evangelical United Brethren Churches in South Dakota. It was during this time that he met and married Eileen Korn, in 1953. Their first child Joleen Faith was born in 1954. Graduation came in 1955. Then it was on to three years at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, Illinois. During these years Bethanne was born, in 1956. Alvin served a Congregational Church in Sublette, IL for two years. Graduation from Seminary and Ordination took place in 1958. The first appointment out of Seminary was at Cambridge-Orafino Parish. Paula was born in 1958. In 1962, the family moved to Orchard-Royal Parish.   At this time remodeling the church and building a new parsonage took place. Two more children—Jonathan born in 1965 and Amy in 1967 came during this assignment. Eileen continued to work as a registered nurse all this time. In 1970, the assignment of the Falls City Parish was taken. Four churches comprised this parish and there were 1100 members for Alvin and Rev. Marvin Koelling to serve. 1974 was the year of the move to St. James United Methodist Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. By now Joleen was in Nurses training, Bethanne in LPN school, Paula in high school, Jon and Amy in elementary school. The church grew to be 800 members after 17 years of ministry. Additions were made to the church building as well. Assignment was made to Seward in 1991, and Alvin moved by himself . . . he and Eileen divorcing in the ensuing years. This was a church of 800 members and a continued challenge for service. In 1997 retirement from active ministry in the United Methodist Church came. For one year the Conestoga Parish was served and then in 1998, the opportunity to serve Friedens United Church of Christ in Seward was accepted and at the time of his passing Pastor Alvin was still serving this church congregation. Alvin was an active member of the Seward Ministerial Association and was the founder of the National Day of Prayer Service in the Seward Community.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Betty Smith and his sons-in-law, David Juza and Randy Widman.

Survivors cherishing Alvin's memory include: his sister, Ruth and Paul Hickman, Silver Creek; marriage partner, Eileen Smith, Papillion; children and spouses: Joleen Widman, Papillion, Bethanne and Tim Topolski, Papillion, Paula Juza, Shell Lake, WI, Jon and Donna Smith, Papillion, Amy and Fred Moreau, Malvern, IA; grandchildren and spouses: Joseph and Lori Felstow, Benjamin and Kate Juza, Andrew Juza, Zoie and Patrick Lyons, David and Suzie Smith, Garrett Smith; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Leah Felstow; niece, Becky and Jim Ellsworth; grandnieces, Olivia and Jenna Ellsworth; nephew, Bryce and Erin Hickman; a whole lot of cousins and very special friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Pastor Al.