The funeral for Wayne Bruce Smith will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 26, at Rochester Covenant Church with Pastors Herb Frost and Wes Gabel officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm, Friday January 25 in the original main building at Macken Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Military rites will be provided by American Legion Post 92 following the service.

Wayne, 65, of Rochester, MN, died in his home of natural causes on Tuesday (January 21, 2013).

A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Wayne had a big heart and lived life in constant, thankful service to others.

Wayne was born December 12, 1947, in Winnebago, Minnesota, to Clarence and Beatrice (Anderson) Smith. He graduated from Huntley High School in 1965 and later attended technical school for electronics in Mankato. He then enlisted in the Navy and served from 1968 to '71, with two tours of Vietnam on the U.S.S. Decatur and 13 months at McMurdo Station in Antarctica in electronics support for international scientists.

On November 6, 1971, he and Joleta Ann Hervey were married in Winnebago, Minnesota. He later earned his Associates Degree in electronics from Rochester Community College. Wayne was employed by Mayo Clinic, IBM, Maysteel, and the History Center of Olmsted County in addition to running his own landscaping business.

Wayne was an active member of Rochester Covenant Church, the Rochester Male Chorus, the Mechanical History Roundtable, and the Elks Club. As an avid volunteer, Wayne took church mission trips to the Appalachias, Chile, and Chicago. He participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He was also active with the Youth Mentorship Program.

Wayne enjoyed creative woodworking, gardening, home improvement projects, and travel with Joleta .  They visited China, New Zealand, Chile, and more in the past decade. Wayne took special joy in playing with his two grandsons.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife Joleta (Hervey) Smith; son Aaron and girlfriend Katie Lundgren of Madison, WI; daughter Megan (Smith) Fisher, husband Jeremy and grandsons Zane and Jack of Golden Valley, MN;  Sister Eileen DiMarco of Genoa City, WI; Sister Margaret (Ron) Fosdick of Burlington, WI; Sister-in-law Pam Mathiason of Rochester, MN; Brother-in-law Dwight (Dedra) Hervey of Winnebago, MN; 8 nieces and nephews, and 5 great nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Merlin Mathiason.

Memorials to Paws and Claws Humane Society or Next Chapter Ministries are welcome.  Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com