Harry “Bud” Smith

BOONE, Iowa—Harry O. “Bud” Smith II, 80, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Boone, Iowa, on July 22, 2025, after a brief but courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Just four weeks before his passing, Bud received his diagnosis. In that short time, he was surrounded by an outpouring of love—family, friends, former students, and neighbors—just the way he would’ve wanted it.

Bud was born on February 16, 1945, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Harry “Bud” and Dorothy (Hauser) Smith. He spent his early years in Baltimore, attending St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School before the family relocated to Oak Forest, Illinois. He graduated from Bremen High School in 1964, where he earned All-Conference football honors on both offense and defense—because Bud never did anything halfway.

He continued his football career at Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, helping the team win four consecutive conference championships—an achievement matched by only a handful of teammates. He was a two-time All-Conference selection, broke multiple records, and caught the attention of the Omaha Mustangs, a semi-pro team that offered him a contract. Bud declined, choosing instead a life rooted in love, purpose, and community.

After graduating from Westmar in 1968, Bud married the love of his life, Sandie Hartman, in 1969. That same year, he began his teaching and coaching career in Colfax, Iowa. The couple eventually settled in Boone in 1972, where Bud would spend the next 34 years at Boone High School, shaping minds and building champions. He taught Driver’s Ed, American History, World History, and Sociology, and coached football, wrestling, and track. He later earned a Master’s in Education from Drake University. Bud had a passion for teaching and a rare ability to connect with students in ways that left a lasting impression—equal parts mentor, motivator, and master of the well-timed wisecrack.

For over two decades, Bud spent his summers painting houses with fellow teachers—what he called his “painting money,” which funded family road trips and kept his kids in cleats and gear. He was also remarkably tech-savvy, always proud to be up on the latest gadgets and home tech.

Bud was a devoted member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Boone, where he was actively involved for over 52 years. His faith was a steady force in his life, and he served his church with the same quiet strength, good humor, and dedication that defined him elsewhere.

Outside the classroom, Bud embraced life with energy and joy. He loved to travel, making five trips to Europe with stops in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal. He grilled with gusto (preferably with a Bloody Mary in hand), gardened with pride, fished with patience, and rode his Harley with a grin. He enjoyed birdwatching from his backyard “command center,” collecting frogs, and perfecting his lawn’s striping game. His garage—aka “Bud’s Happy Place”—was his sanctuary, where Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way” often played in the background—a fitting soundtrack for the way he lived.

But more than anything, Bud loved his family. He proudly shared his love of sports with his kids and grandkids—whether traveling to games, cheering from the stands, or streaming online from home, he never missed a moment. A lifelong Chicago Bears fan, he was the eternal optimist, always convinced that this would be their year.

Bud is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandra Smith; his daughter, Shannon Jones (Matt) of Boone; his son, Tyler Smith (Megan) of Reno, NV; and three beloved grandsons, Cooper Williams, Colton Smith, and Ben Smith, along with step-granddaughters Bailey Jones and Laney Norman-Jones.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry O. and Dorothy Smith; his sister, Judith Smith; his brother-in-law, Gerald Hartman; and his sister-in-law, Rima Hartman.

Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone. A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Augustana Lutheran Church, with Pastor Robin Coughennower officiating. For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed on the Augustana Lutheran Church YouTube page and can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/@augustanalutheranchurchboone

Following the memorial service, a Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Fareway Event Center at the Cobblestone Inn in Boone. Interment will be at Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone at a later date.

The family encourages you to honor Bud in your own way—fire up the grill, crank up some Sinatra, tell a great story, or spend a little extra time in your own “happy place.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bud’s family for a designation at a later date, or to the Boone Booster Club.

Because if Bud taught us anything, it’s that a life well-lived isn’t measured in trophies or titles—it’s measured in laughter shared, moments that matter, and never skimping on the bacon in your Bloody Mary.