Karen Smith

Karen L. Smith, 85, of Van Wert, passed away at 1:46 PM on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Van Wert Health.

She was born on October 8, 1936, in Wapakoneta, the daughter of the late Gilbert and Anna (Drexler) Brockert. On June 19, 1954,
she married her true love, Richard J. "Dick" Smith, who passed away on February 2, 2018.

Karen retired from the Van Wert County Soil and Water Conservation District in 1988, after 14 years of service.

Karen was strong in her faith and attended church regularly. She and Dick also volunteered for the American Red Cross.


Karen enjoyed any type of crafting, gardening, floral design, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving are five children and her grandchildren; Vicky (Tedd) Dunno of Arizona and her daughter, Tawney Jo; Dianne (Jeff) Unterbrink of Etna Green, Indiana and their children, Lorna and Austin; Mark (Sheila) Smith of Warsaw, Indiana and their children, Jeremy, Cortney and Lydon; Richard B. (Cathy) Smith of Monroeville, Indiana and their children, Shubitha and Natasha; and Jon Eric (Trisha) Smith of Van Wert and their children, Kolton and Keenan; 9 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Jane Seibert of Lima and Barbara "Anita" Kintz of New Haven, Indiana.

In addition to her parents and husband, Karen was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Brockert; and a sister, Dolores "Ann" Weichart.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Calvary Evangelical Church, Van Wert, with Rev. Clark Williman, officiating. Private interment will be held in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.

Visitation will be 2 hours prior to services on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Karen`s memory may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project.

To share in Karen's online memorial, please visit www.alspachgearhart.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, 722 S Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891.