Obituary for Charles "Jake" Smith
Charles “Jake” Gearhardt Smith, 85, of Leavenworth, entered the gates of Heaven, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at 1 p.m. with his loving wife of 62 years, Janet, and his two sons, Craig and Kyle, at his bedside. He was born in Leavenworth, Kan., Oct. 28, 1937, to Charles and Helen Smith.
Jake graduated from Immaculata High School in 1955 and earned the Eagle Scout award.
On May 21, 1960, he married the love of his life, Janet Arnold. They raised their two sons in Leavenworth, where he coached both of them in basketball.
Jake worked for 38 years at Hallmark Cards as a Machinist, retiring in 1996. His retirement years were spent becoming an avid golfer and making many trips to Branson with his wife. His proudest golf accomplishments over the years were shooting three holes in one and winning a senior league. His retirement years were also spent laughing and dancing with his beautiful wife and playing old and new games with his family. He also enjoyed attending activities and events with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish and remained a faithful catholic his entire life. His collection of angel figurines grew yearly, and now the sweetest man on earth has become an angel himself.
Jake is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Craig, and his wife, Vicki, of Grafton, Mass., and Kyle and his wife, Kelly, of Lansing, Kan.; his sister, Carol and her husband, Richard Luttrell, of Pulaski, Va.; six grandchildren, Ryan (Natasha) Hoppe, Kelsey (Brett) Goedeke, Alyssa Smith, Taylor (Casey) Sutton, Anna Smith and Michaela Smith; six great grandchildren, Bailee, Rhett and Brielle Hoppe, Ace Goedeke, Jameson Putt and Iris Sutton; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Visitation beginning with praying the rosary will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Church, and will be led by Father Kenneth Criqui, who graduated with Jake. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish, 521 Linn Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048.
Jake graduated from Immaculata High School in 1955 and earned the Eagle Scout award.
On May 21, 1960, he married the love of his life, Janet Arnold. They raised their two sons in Leavenworth, where he coached both of them in basketball.
Jake worked for 38 years at Hallmark Cards as a Machinist, retiring in 1996. His retirement years were spent becoming an avid golfer and making many trips to Branson with his wife. His proudest golf accomplishments over the years were shooting three holes in one and winning a senior league. His retirement years were also spent laughing and dancing with his beautiful wife and playing old and new games with his family. He also enjoyed attending activities and events with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish and remained a faithful catholic his entire life. His collection of angel figurines grew yearly, and now the sweetest man on earth has become an angel himself.
Jake is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Craig, and his wife, Vicki, of Grafton, Mass., and Kyle and his wife, Kelly, of Lansing, Kan.; his sister, Carol and her husband, Richard Luttrell, of Pulaski, Va.; six grandchildren, Ryan (Natasha) Hoppe, Kelsey (Brett) Goedeke, Alyssa Smith, Taylor (Casey) Sutton, Anna Smith and Michaela Smith; six great grandchildren, Bailee, Rhett and Brielle Hoppe, Ace Goedeke, Jameson Putt and Iris Sutton; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Visitation beginning with praying the rosary will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Church, and will be led by Father Kenneth Criqui, who graduated with Jake. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish, 521 Linn Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048.