James A. Smith

Funeral services for James Smith were held Monday, December 27,2010 at 10:30 a.m. at Kotrba Funeral Home in Gregory with Pastor Scott McClellen officiating. There was a visitation at Kotrba Funeral home Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Music was provided by various recorded selections "I Can Only Imagine" "Amazing Grace" "I Will Rise" and "Go Rest High On That Mountain.

Casket bearers were Michael McGuire, Matthew Klein, Jeff Smith, L.J. Veskrna, Brian Kalenda, and Dakota Rinker.

Military honors were conferred by the Winner American Legion and the Gregory American Legion.

Interment was in the Winner Cemetery, Winner, SD.

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James Allen Smith was born January 22, 1961 at Winner, SD, the third of six children in the family of Darrell L. and Donna R. (Daywitt) Smith. He spent his youth in Yuma, AZ and Winner area.

He enlisted in the Army and served in Germany as a suppy clerk .

He began his career working as an electrician and did commercial wiring around Yuma, Phoenix and then in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Jim moved to Gregory in 2000 and as his health declined he lived with family members before coming to reside at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater, SD where he passed away on December 21, 2010 at the age of 49 years.

James loved the outdoors with one of his favorite activities being fishing. Jim will be remembered for his sense of humor and his kind and giving way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Jody, and a great nephew Jayson.

Surviving him are two children: Taylor Reonna Smith and Chance James Smith both of Cape Coral, FL; a brother Jeff Smith of Mitchell, SD; and three sisters, Ionia Klein, Sherry Schreiner, and Kay Rinker, all of Gregory, SD; Aunts Belva Smith of Rapid City, SD and Glennis Smith of Black Hawk, SD; and Uncles Howard Dreyer of Winner, SD and Larry Daywitt of Lead, SD, and by 17 nieces and nephews and countless other who knew and loved him.