Jeanie Smith

July 29, 1925 - December 21, 2019

Norma Jean “Jeanie” (Ver Steegh) Smith, 94, left this world to be with her Lord on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Stanard Assisted Living (Western Homes) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Jean was born to Gerrit Everett Ver Steegh and Irma Marie (Heinzman) Ver Steegh in Oskaloosa, IA on July 29, 1925. In her high school years, she worked at Beal’s grocery. After graduation from New Sharon High School in 1943 as valedictorian, Jean attended AIB (American Institute of Business) in Des Moines during the summer of 1943. She worked as a bookkeeper at American Litho & Printing Company in Des Moines. On June 2, 1944, Jeanie married Herschel LaVerne Smith at the New Sharon Presbyterian Church. Jeanie worked for CPAs in New Sharon and Ottumwa before Herschel started farming. As a farmer’s wife, Jean raised and sold dressed chickens to New Sharon residents. Like most farmers’ wives of that time, she was a “stay-at-home” mother. She worked as a cook’s helper at Oskaloosa High School. Later, Jean worked for thirteen years as a sales associate at Hickory House in Oskaloosa. Jean served her community, church and family faithfully. She was active in Helping Hands Circle and later Willing Workers. For over 40 years, Jean taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and wrote puppet scripts for Children’s Church. She was an active member of WMC (Women’s Missionary Council) with the New Sharon and Oskaloosa Assemblies of God churches. Jeanie and Herschel loved to travel, seeing all 50 states. They also toured Israel and Europe. Her memory is honored by her three children Connie Buesch of Aurora, Colorado, grandson Sean Buesch and great-granddaughters Alyssa and Krystianna Buesch; Dr. Marvin (Betty) Smith of Princeton, Minnesota, granddaughter Jennifer (Aaron) Gruber and great-grandson Caleb and great-granddaughter Elanor of Princeton, Minnesota; Andrea (Jeff) Stallman, grandson Andrew (Andrea) Stallman and granddaughter Aubrey (Alex) Streicher of Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, there are nephews and dear friends. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Herschel LaVerne Smith, her parents, her sister, Jessie Ver Huel, and two brothers Harold and Leslie Ver Steegh, and son-in-law William Buesch. Services 11:30 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2019 at the New Sharon Assembly of God Church, with interment in the Friends Cemetery, New Sharon. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Assembly of God Church in New Sharon.