SOLON — Dan Smith was born on August 2, 1953 in Iowa City, the first born of Vernon and Maxine (Kinney) Smith. While a student at Solon High School, he served as class president, was a band member, active in FFA, and played defensive end/tight end for the Spartans. In 1974 he joined the Solon Fire Department, starting a career surpassing 40 years and including ten years as Chief before retiring in 2015. He was hired by the Iowa City Fire Dept. in 1987 and rose through the ranks earning promotions to Lieutenant and Battalion Chief before retiring in 2014.
He died Sunday, March 10 at the age of 70 in his home. A visitation was held Friday, March 15 and he was laid to rest Saturday, March 16.
A procession led by the Solon Fire Dept. and with units from the Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Jefferson-Monroe Twp. (Swisher), Ely, North Liberty, Coralville, Iowa City, and West Branch fire departments and the Johnson County Ambulance Service worked its way from St. Mary’s Catholic Church through Solon on its way to the Oakland Cemetery. The procession stopped briefly in front of the old fire station on Iowa St. where current and retired members rendered a final salute to their brother and faithful servant.
Dan Smith is survived by his wife, Barb; daughters Sarah (Dave) Drea, Kristen Smith, Abbe (Jereme) Gravert; his grandchildren Kyle Drea, Madison Gravert, and Merrick Gravert; his siblings Theresa Mayhew, Sandy Willey, Jeff (Carmen) Smith, Patrick (Missy) Smith, Debbie (Neil) Behr, Sherry (Mike) Whetstone; brothers and sisters-in-law Steven (Verlee) Terwilliger, Penny (John) Barnts, and Joe(Christy) Barger, as well as his nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Merrick Ham, his nephew, Brett Smith, his niece, Kaitlyn Behr, brothers-in-law Rick Mayhew, Gary Willey, Mark Terwilliger. Also, his fur baby, Dabne.
Solon firefighters, current and retired, salute as the hearse carrying retired Fire Chief Dan Smith passes by the old fire station Saturday morning on its way to the Oakland Cemetery.