Reuben T. DeSmith

Reuben T. DeSmith, 89, of Atkinson, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016 surrounded by his family at Hammond-Henry Hospital, Long Term Care in Geneseo.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at 10 am on Saturday, April 30th at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson.  Father S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate.  Burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Atkinson, where Military Honors will be accorded by the Atkinson American Legion Post.  Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Friday at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, Atkinson, where a rosary will be recited at 3:30pm.  Memorials may be made to Atkinson American Legion, St. Anthony’s Church, or the Atkinson Fire Department.

Reuben was born on December 31, 1926 in Atkinson, IL, the son of Edward and Elizabeth (VanDeRostyne) DeSmith.  He graduated from Atkinson High School in 1945.  He proudly served in the US Army during WWII.  He was united in marriage to Patricia A. Hoogerwerf on September 2, 1950 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson.  Reuben had been a lifelong grain and livestock farmer in rural Atkinson, retiring in December 1991 when he and Pat moved to town.  He had also been a seed corn representative for Wyffels Hybrids for 29 years.

Reuben was a member of St. Anthony Catholic church, Atkinson American Legion Post, and Atkinson Kiwanis Club.  He was an Atkinson Fire District Trustee for 25 years and an Atkinson township tax assessor for many years.  Reuben enjoyed fishing and golfing.  He also enjoyed having coffee with his buddies and walking with his friends, the Hayden’s Hikers.  He loved spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren’s events.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia; daughter: Marjean (Steve) Laleman of Geneseo; sons: Dick (Cindy) DeSmith of Atkinson, Dave (Kathy) DeSmith of Geneseo, Dan (Linda) DeSmith of Atkinson and Ron (Ann) DeSmith of Atkinson; 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; sister: Rhea Dwyer of Geneseo; and brother: Glenn (Betty) DeSmith of Geneseo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Francis Dwyer. 

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