John E. Smith

John E. (Cap) Smith, 95, of Fargo and formerly of Osnabrock, ND, passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Elim Care Center of Fargo, ND.

John E. “Cap” Smith was born January 11, 1917 to parents, Florence I. (Wakeford) Smith and Ira C. B. Smith. Cap spent the major part of his life in Osnabrock. He attended Osnabrock grade school and graduated from high school in 1934. In 1938, he graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.S. Degree in Commerce, a major in accounting and minors in merchandising and economics.

In 1939 Cap started working in the northwestern division office of Minneapolis Moline Implement Co. in Fargo, ND. On April 26, 1941 he married Gladys M. Travers, and they made their home in Fargo, ND. In June 1942, John enlisted in the US Army Signal Corp. He spent nine months in the Signal Corp School at the University of ND. Upon completion of his training in Grand Forks, he was put in active service. John served overseas as a radio repair man and Fixed Station Attendant with the 3199th and 835th Signal Service Batallion in Ledo Assam, India and in Karachi, India, and now Pakistan.

After the war, John and Gladys came back to Osnabrock where John went into the implement and hardware business with his father. When his father retired, John purchased the business and operated it for twenty-five years.

John was active in the Commercial Club, Fire Department, American Legion, Union Cemetery Board, Justice of the Peace, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Upon their retirement, they spent their winters in Mesa, AZ and summers in Osnabrock. Gladys passed away on December 31, 2002. John made his home at Riverview Place in Fargo and eventually moved to Elim Care Center.

FARGO SERVICES will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 9am, at the Riverview Place Chapel.

OSNABROCK SERVICES will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 3:30pm at the Barley Hall.

INTERMENT- Union Cemetery – Osnabrock, ND