Carl Smith

FAIRMONT — Funeral services for Carl Smith, 96, of Fairmont, Minn. will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at United Methodist Church in Fairmont. Following the service, military honors will be provided by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222. A private burial will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Visitation will be 12-1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at United Methodist Church in Fairmont. Those wishing to view the service may do so on the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3228945918. Carl passed away on Tuesday morning, December 12, 2023, at his home at Woodland Manor in Fairmont. Memorials are preferred to the new daycare center at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont or Paralyzed Veterans of America. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Carl Vern Smith was born October 24, 1927, to Ethel and Carl A. Smith near Pipestone, Minn. He grew up in Pipestone and graduated from high school there. He was a WWII Navy veteran and attended Gustavus Adolphus College after returning home.

Carl and Jo met while she was teaching in Pipestone after the war. They married on December 27, 1951. After several moves, they settled in Fairmont in 1955.

Carl and Jo were married for 71 years. Jo passed away June 17, 2023. They really were two halves of a whole. They loved traveling and spending time together. They were blessed with two daughters, Karla and Shannon.

Carl was employed with First Bank Systems, managing their Insurance Agency in Fairmont, for 40+ years. He loved Fairmont and enjoyed being involved in the community. He was a Boy Scout leader, involved in his church and choir, coached the high school hockey team with his life-long friend, Jim Swanson, always involved with the King Korn Day Parade, JC’s, Masons and other organizations.

Carl loved hunting, fishing, golf, camping and family time on Ottertail Lake. He loved to sing and could play many classical piano pieces from memory. He loved people and never met someone he couldn’t have a conversation with. He was an optimist. In his thinking, there was never a bad day. Carl loved his family, community, and friends but, most of all he loved his Savior Jesus Christ.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Ethel; brother, Marlo; sisters, Lucille and Carol; and beloved wife, Jo.

Carl is survived by his daughters, Karla (William) Clark of Sioux Falls, S.D., Shannon (George) Deer of Eagan, Minn.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ryan (Katie) Shuck and their children, Julianne, Jeremy and Joshua, Lindsay (John) Eidel and their children, Cullen and Claire, Eric (Samantha) Hinderaker and their children, Hadley and William, Laura (Peter) Christian and their children, twins Henry and Theodore and Oliver, Alison (Dan) Schumann and their son, Charlie; and several nieces and nephews.