St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
Montello, WI
August 23, 2021
In loving memory of
Donald Smith
March 31, 1929 – August 19, 2021
In loving memory of
Donald Smith
March 31, 1929 – August 19, 2021
† CHRISTIAN FUNERAL †
This order of worship is intended for the funeral or memorial service of one who has departed from this life in the Christian faith. With the Word of God, the Christian church comforts the bereaved family and friends and confesses its lasting hope in the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
GREETING AND PRAYER
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We have come together to seek God’s comfort in our sorrow and to rejoice in the promise of the resurrection. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, you wept at the grave of your friend Lazarus, and you consoled Mary and Martha in their distress. Draw near to us who mourn for ______, and dry the tears of all who weep. Calm our troubled hearts, dispel our doubts and fears, and lead us to praise you for having brought him to faith. In your rising from the dead, you conquered death and opened the gates to eternal life. Strengthen us with your Word, and lead us through this earthly life until at last we are united with you and all the saints in glory everlasting. Amen.
PSALM 23
The Lord is My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
HYMN The Old Rugged Cross
Will enter…
RESURRECTION COMFORT
M: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. The apostle Paul writes to the Romans: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus gives us this comfort: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
M: Death has been swallowed up in victory! Thanks be to God!
C: He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
M: When Christ, who is our life, appears,
C: Then we also will appear with him in glory.
M: We will be before the throne of God
C: And serve him day and night in his temple.
M: Never again will we hunger;
C: Never again will we thirst.
M: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be our shepherd; he will lead us to springs of living water.
C: And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
M: Let us pray.
God of all grace, you sent your Son Jesus to destroy the power of death and to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives, we too shall live. Comfort us with your promise that neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
John 16:22
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:1-4
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
HYMN 379 Amazing Grace – How Sweet the Sound
Will enter…
SERMON Romans 6:23
“Sin’s Wages & God’s Gift”
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
DUET The Lord’s Prayer
*Sung by Julie & Paige Klawitter.
PRAYERS
The following responsive prayer or another prayer may be said.
M: Almighty God, we praise you for the great company of saints who have finished their lives in faith and now rest from their labors. We remember especially our loved one, ______, whom you have redeemed by the blood of your Son and received as your dear child through Holy Baptism. We thank you for giving him to us as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your compassion, comfort all who are sad in this hour. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
M: We praise you for your love in Christ, which sustains us in life and death. In our earthly sorrows, help us find strength in the fellowship of the church, joy in the forgiveness of sins, and hope in the resurrection to eternal life. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
M: You do not leave us comfortless but strengthen and care for us through your Word and sacrament. You give us family, friends, and neighbors to help when there is loneliness now and in the days to come. Brighten our future with a firm trust in your promises and care. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
A special prayer or intercession may follow.
M: Remove our fears, and make us bold to pray with confidence as our Savior has taught us:
LORD’S PRAYER
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
BLESSING
M: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
C: Amen.
RECESSION
Donald Glenville Smith, age 92 of Dalton passed away peacefully Thursday, August 19, 2021 surrounded by his family at his home. Don was born in Galesburg, North Dakota to Henry and Selma (Stundahl) Smith on March 31, 1929. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. On October 10, 1953, Don was united in marriage to Doris Irene Peterson in Hendrum, MN.
Don owned and operated several Locker Plants/Grocery Stores in Minnesota and North Dakota before becoming an Union Ironworker. After retirement, Don was the founder and operated Grandpa’s Shelters & Sheds. He and Doris moved to Buffalo Township in 1964 and became involved in the community. Don served on the Marquette and Columbia County Fair Boards, State of Wisconsin Association of Fairs, Marquette County 4-H Leadership Association as well as being a proud member of American Legion Post #351 of Montello and Ironworkers Union #383 for many years. He was a longtime member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montello.
He enjoyed playing cards, rollerskating, dancing, traveling and spending time with friends and family. Don will be remembered for being a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. He created a replica model in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Ferris Wheel, it can be seen at the Marquette County Historical Society in Westfield. In 1994, Don was inducted into The Hall of Fame of the Wisconsin Association of Fairs. Don was a long time active member of the American Legion with 72 years of continuous service. In 2021, Don designed and donated a Legionnaire Trailer to be used in parades to transport The American Legion Honor Guard; with the help of many, the trailer was completed and it’s first parade was the 2021 4th of July Parade in Harrisville. He always had a secret cookie for his grandkids in his pocket and will be remembered for his sense of humor.
Don leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Doris and four children: Lana (Tim) Madole of Salem, Cheryl Smith of Dalton, Jeff of Dalton and Jody (Michelle) of Montello as well as seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters: Phyllis Farrell of Dalton and Shirley Fleith of Jamestown, ND as well as many Godchildren and other extended family members.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, son, Donald Dean Smith, brothers: Theodore “Palmer”, Sivert, Harold, Hans Peter, Dwayne; sisters: Grace Hunter, Thelma Hahn-Burkle, Betty Lou Peterson, Verna Roidt and Dee Rhodes.
A special thank you to the St. Croix Hospice Team, Sandy Gerbitz, Rebecca Kearns and April Petroski. Thank You for all the care, support and your dedication was remarkable.
A funeral service for Donald Smith will be held on Monday, August 23, 2021 at 11:30 AM at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montello. Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 11:15 AM at the church. Pastor Pete Zietlow will preside and immediately following the service military honors will be performed by American Legion Post #351. Following the traditional service, Donald will be cremated and inurned at the Greenwood Cemetery, Town of Buffalo. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the family for several memorials that will be established in Don’s name.
Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Montello and Oxford is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com
