On October 26, 1926, Carl Wayne (Bub) Smith, Jr. was born to Carl Wayne Smith and Mary Lylith (Pauly) Smith in Hamburg, Iowa. They lived on a farm east of Hamburg, north of the Golden Rod and he attended Liberty Country School with his younger sister, Madge Lee. C. Wayne attended high school at Hamburg High, where he graduated in 1944 as class president.
After his graduation, C. Wayne went west on Highway 2 and got a job working on a cattle ranch in the Sand Hills of Nebraska where he fostered his love of rodeo. He was later drafted by the U.S. Army and spent 23 months in Europe during the Korean War. Upon his return from the Army, Bub returned to the Sand Hills for a short time until his father died and then returned to Hamburg to take over the family farm. It was around this time that he met his favorite dance partner and love of his life, Marilyn Rucker. They were married on May 5, 1956. Bub worked the farm while Marilyn worked at the Fremont County Court House. They had their first son, R.W., on November 15, 1962, and then their youngest, Bryan, on January 8, 1967. They were active members of the First United Methodist Church of Hamburg, Easter Star, Dudes & Dolls Square-dancing club, Waubonsie Saddle Club, and Washington-Madison 4-H Club. Bub was involved with the Nishna Drainage District during his time in Hamburg and spent many rainy days babysitting #6 ditch drainage pumps.
In addition, Bub was involved with the Hamburg Masonic Lodge and the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post 128. Bub was very involved with the Sidney Rodeo through the Legion by volunteering for many years working behind the north bucking chutes as well as being on the Rodeo Board where he served as secretary. Bub and his son R.W. were instrumental in nominating and the induction of the Sidney Rodeo to the PRCA Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Post 7064 Rommel-Conklin VFW Post in Tabor and served as Post Commander.
They lived east of Hamburg until the early 1980’s when they moved into town and then finally to Sidney where they lived until 2019. A farmer through and through, Bub spent countless hours in the field and with his livestock, starting before the sun was up and, at times, working late after dark doing whatever it took to keep things going and growing. Whether it was working on farm equipment, taking care of livestock, or helping out a fellow farmer in need, he always had something on his plate. And through all that, he never missed any family event from holidays to birthdays to school programs or even a dance and did most all of it with a laugh and a smile. He had to stay pretty clever to keep up with Marilyn. C. Wayne (Bub) Smith was a loving husband and
C. Wayne (Bub) Smith was a loving husband and father, dedicated farmer and horseman, talented dancer, singer, and music lover, and the happiest guy because of all those things. He left us on January 16, 2022, at Calvin Community in Des Moines, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Mary L. sister Madge and wife Marilyn. He is survived by his sons R.W. (Sara) and Bryan, nephew Morgan Dickinson, niece Mindy (Rucker) Schaeffer along with granddaughter Dr. Abbey Smith-Schwab (Tanner) and grandsons Ayden and Brodey Shelley.
Memorial services were held 2:00 PM Monday, May 2, 2022 at the Sidney, IA United Faith Church with Rev. Leah Elrod and Rev. Jan Phillips officiating. Interment of ashes for both Bub and his wife, Marilyn,followed in the Sidney, IA Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established. The Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, IA is in charge of arrangements.
