Obituary of Patrick C. Smith

Patrick C. (Pat) Smith, age 79 of Yankton passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, 21, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Military rites will be by the SDARNG Honor Guard, Sioux Falls, SD. Visitations will begin at 5 PM, Friday, September 20, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a rosary at 7 PM followed by a video tribute and Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pat was born on March 17, 1934 to Clarence and Esther (Glynn) Smith. He was born and raised in Yankton and remained there his entire life. In 1956, he entered the US Air Force and was stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a fire fighter supervisor until he was honorably discharged in 1961. He returned home and married JoAnn Cap in 1966 and proceeded to start a family he would love dearly. He was employed with the Yankton Public School System starting in 1964 as a janitor. He became Fire Chief for the City of Yankton in February of 1973, where he built the fire department to what it is known as today. If you couldn't find him in the fire hall or at home, he would be at the bowling alley, a bucks/gazelle game, a coyote basketball or a Mt. Marty game. He was a life-time member of the South Dakota Firefighters Association, was a past President of the South Dakota Fire Chiefs Association, and a member of the 300 bowling club. As of today, he still holds the record for the highest series with a score of 835 at Yankton Bowl. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Pat is survived by a wonderful wife, JoAnn of Yankton, SD; one daughter, Jill Heesch (Nyle) of Sioux Falls, SD; two sons, Jay (Sherry) of Redfield, SD and Chad, of Rapid City, SD; many grandkids that he loved to spoil: Maxwell, Samantha (Brandon), Sydney, Chelsea, Annie, Kinley, Tyler, Brady, and Michael; one twin sister, Patricia Raab (Martin) of Yankton, SD; one brother, Clarence Smith Jr .of Seattle, WA; a brother-in-law, Donald DeVore of Tampa, FL; several nephews: Larry (Tracy) Raab, Michael (Avalin) DeVore, Roger (Garth) DeVore, Jeff DeVore, Charlie DeVore, and Brett Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Esther, one sister, Betty Lou DeVore, one nephew, Steven Raab, and two pets, Charmin and Hoser. The family of Pat Smith would like memorials directed to the Yankton/Vermillion Fire Department, Kid's Fire Safety House, P. O. Box 176, 201 West 23rd Street, Yankton, SD 57078.