Dale Buck A. Smith

Dale “Buck” Smith, age 90 of Cozad, passed away August 27, 2013 at the Cozad Community Hospital. Buck was born September 22, 1922 at Cozad, Nebraska to Harold ""Buck"" and Pearl (Moore) Smith. Buck graduated from Cozad High School with the class of 1940. In December 1942, Buck entered the US Army where he served in the Pacific Theater with the 902nd Field Artillery Battalion in WWII. Following his discharge in 1946, Buck returned to the Cozad area. On August 21, 1948, Buck married Martha M. Downs at Sumner. The couple made their home in Cozad, and their union was blessed with 3 children, Craig, Joni and Cecily. Buck ran the parts department at Haley Chevrolet in Cozad for a few years before taking a management position at Midway Auto. In 1961, following his recruitment for the position, Buck became the Superintendent of the newly established Monroe Auto Plant in Cozad. Buck dutifully worked and walked the floor of that plant for 20 years, retiring in 1981. Following his retirement, Buck kept busy working part time in carpentry and at Kildare Lumber. Woodworking became a great passion of Buck’s, and he made countless things for his family, including toy rocking horses, trucks, crosses, birdhouses and sleds to name a few. He was a tinkerer at heart, and came to be quite skilled at fabricating just about anything he put his mind to. His garage was like a sanctuary to him, and over the years, Buck spent a great deal of time there working on his various projects. In later years, Buck was a proud grandpa, and greatly enjoyed time spent gathered with family and grandchildren. Buck was a member of the Cozad United Methodist Church. He had served on the Cozad Planning and Zoning Board, was a member of the Cozad Elks Lodge, VFW and had served for 30 years on the Volunteer Fire Department. Buck was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Martha Smith of Cozad; son, Craig (Jeana) Smith of Carlisle, IA; 2 daughters, Cecily (Alan) Clark of Cozad, Joni (Greg) Bostelman of Grand Island; 5 grandchildren, Blake, Lucas, Sheana, Gretchen and Chelsey; and a host of friends. A memorial has been established in his memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Services will be held on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Smith officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Cozad Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.