Jim was born September 8, 1939, to James Vern and Grace (Johnson) Smith in Marshalltown and attended Albion Schools in Albion, IA. He was united in marriage to Janet Daniels on July 9, 1966, at the Albion Methodist Church. Jim was a husband for 58 years, a proud grandfather, and a loyal friend and neighbor. After he retired from 11 years as a farmer and 38 years at Fisher Controls, Jim kept busy in his garage working on cars and restoring old tractors. He was a member of the Central Iowa Restorers Club.

Throughout the years Jim enjoyed spending time with various pets he loved, and going to car shows. He loved showing off the old cars he had restored over the years, such as his ’57 Chevy and his ’58 Corvette that he still owned.

He will be greatly missed by many for all his mechanical expertise and by his family and grandchildren for the way he genuinely loved them.

Jim will be missed by his wife, Janet, of Marshalltown, IA, his children, Doug Smith of Marshalltown and Jeanette Smith (Dustin) of Marshalltown, five grandchildren; Savanna, Izaak, Tyler, Michael, and Michelle (Jay), six great-grandchildren; Jayda, Mackenzie (Tim), Kyler, Logan, Rilea, and Tucker, and one sister, Joyce McCreary of Cleveland, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Dorothy Lasson, Lillian Reader, Charlotte Lampe, Verna Kline, Charles (Buck) Smith, Pauline Flowers, and Helen (Jones) Ritland.