A Celebration of Life for Jim Smith, “Coach Smith”, of Glenville will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 7 at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea. The Reverend John Mitchem will officiate. Honors will be accorded by the Glenville Fire Department.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday at the United Methodist Church, Albert Lea and one hour before services at the church. Bonnerup Funeral Service is assisting the family. Jim left us unexpectedly at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis on Monday, July 2, 2018.
He was 46. He was born James Arthur on August 27, 1971, in St. Paul, Minnesota and with his loving parents Arthur W. and Jaris L (Kelly) Smith made his home in Albert Lea. In his younger years he played football, played tuba in band, and was active in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H.
He graduated with the Albert Lea High School Class of 1990. He graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City and from Southwest State in Marshall, Minnesota. Jim had worked at the Albert Lea YMCA, and was currently working in the Special Education Department in Glenville Schools and as a groundskeeper at Wedgewood Cove.
Jim’s real passion was working with youth. Coach Smith had coached for more than 20 years in Albert Lea, Austin and Glenville. He coached football, softball, baseball and offered to help in any way he could.
A sports enthusiast, he loved fishing with his dad, a good game of golf, as well as participating in any sport that needed a player. He was also an avid spectator of all sports including professional and any at the local level. His compassion to help others showed in his lifelong membership and participation in all aspects of the United Methodist Church Community.
He was proud and dedicated member of the Glenville Fire Department since 2013. Jim will be lovingly missed by his family, wife Amanda and precious son Kai, father Arthur W. Smith, of Albert Lea, parents-in-law: Jim (Dena) Brech of Owatonna and Peggy (Richard) Manges of Albert Lea; brother-in-law Ryan Brech of Glenville, niece Brookelyn Brech; step-siblings: Josh and James Manges of Albert Lea, Autumn & Austin Ress of Owatonna; grandparents-in-law: Patricia Mangskau, Kendall and Lila Johnson and Cheryl Brech all of Albert Lea, aunts: Marlys Handberg of Mpls, MN, and Mary Jo Kelly of Sante Fe, NM, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother Jaris L. Smith, grandparents Arthur W. and Veona A. Smith, James A. and Doris E. Kelly, grandfather-in-law Dale Mangskau.
Jim put a mark on all of our hearts. He was a very caring, loving, dedicated husband, father, son and friend and volunteer.
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