Glenn Allen Smith, age 76, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 surrounded in love.
Glenn was born in Watertown, SD on May 11, 1948, the eldest son of Allen and Roberta (Heiden) Smith. In his younger years, the family lived on a farm just outside Clark, SD. He enjoyed spending time with his brother and cousins and graduated from Clark High School in 1966. In 9th grade Glenn met Lenora and their love story began.
Following high school, Glenn and Lenora both attended North Dakota State School of Science, Wahpeton, where Glenn went to school for auto body repair. After college Lenora moved to Rochester, MN to work at the Mayo Clinic and Glenn soon followed. They were married in Clark, SD in 1969, then made their home in Rochester where they welcomed two daughters, Michelle and Shawna. Glenn and Lenora were happily married for 55 years until his death parted them for now.
Glenn worked at Schoon Pontiac and went on to co-own S&S Auto Body in Oronoco from 1972-1979. Later he worked at C&M Auto Body and the Mayo Clinic Facilities Paint Shop.
To say Glenn was a car lover is an understatement. As young as age 3 he was pointing out makes and models of cars, "That's a Packard". He raced dirt track for a number of years, loved his 'shop' time restoring old vehicles, watching NASCAR, attending every Back to Fifties car show at the MN State Fairgrounds, and many local car shows and cruises. He also loved spending time with his family, grandchildren, lifelong friends and pets. In 1995 Glenn & Lenora moved to the country just outside Rochester and his dream came true, acreage, a shop and pole shed for all his cars & projects, both finished and unfinished. After Glenn retired in 2012, he and Lenora started wintering in Mesa, AZ. Even in Arizona, he was able to race and tinker with remote control cars at their retirement park.
Glenn will be deeply missed by his loving and caring wife, Lenora Smith; daughters, Michelle (Chris) Benny and Shawna (Jeff) Lorch; brother Gail (Melanie) Smith; grandchildren, Julia Lorch, Amelia Lorch and Elizabeth Benny; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Allen and Roberta Smith.
The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 21, 2024 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1105 12th St. SE, Rochester, 55904). A visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. Interment will follow at St. Bridget's Cemetery.
In honor of Glenn Smith, a memorial may be directed to "Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center" at 3033 41st St., CF2-602, Rochester, MN 55901, the American Diabetes Association, or a charity of your choice.
