Gerald D. SmalleyMENTONE – Gerald D. Smalley, 87, of rural Claypool, Beaver Dam Lake, passed at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, at his residence.
Gerald was born on Nov. 25, 1933, in Burket, to the late Donald D. and Minnie Sands Smalley. He was married on Oct. 7, 1956, in Atwood, to Sherry S. Parks; she survives.
He was a 1951 graduate of Beaver Dam High School. Gerald was known for many things. He was a former bus driver for Tippecanoe Valley Schools. He was a familiar face at the Livestock Auctions at Shipshewana and Topeka for over 38 years. He served his community as a Kosciusko commissioner for 10 years, as well as a 12 years director of the Kosciusko REMC.
Gerald was an over 60-year member of the Beaver Dam United Methodist Church. He enjoyed 4-H and served as Leader for many years. He also was known for having exotic animals. It was not uncommon to see zebras or other less common livestock around his farm. With all of the talents and interests he had, most people would not know the struggle he had with Polio as a child. He never forgot that battle, so for many years he regularly met with a group of Polio survivors in Warsaw.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sherry Smalley, of Claypool; daughters: Tammy Horn and Brant Nellans and Cara and husband Mark Kissell; son, Gary and wife Deb Smalley; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Linda and husband Mitch Tucker; and brother, Wayne and wife Shirley Smalley.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Timothy Horn.
Visitation hours will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22 at King Memorial Home, Mentone. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23 at the Beaver Dam United Methodist Church, 9798 W. 1000 S., Akron, with Pastor Butch Troke officiating.
The interment will take place in the Nichols Cemetery near Akron.
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Donations can be made in Gerald’s memory to the Beaver Dam Church/Wheels on Fire to assist the community members who are fighting cancer or to the Beaver Dam Church Youth or Nehemiah Vision Ministries with the memo line saying “Intern #3” which helps Brooke Smalley in Haiti.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
