Brent R. Smith, 61, of Laurel, IA entered the gates of Heaven on the evening of Friday, November 12, 2021 with his family by his side after a courageous seven-month battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 18, 2021 at Laurel United Methodist Church in Laurel, IA. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m., until the time of the services at the church. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com
Brent was born on April 12, 1960 to Raymond L. and Wanda J. (Sietmann) Smith. He graduated from SEMCO in 1978 where he participated in band and all-state choir all four years and played football and baseball, where he earned multiple all-conference awards playing as catcher for the team. Following his graduation, he attended Marshalltown Community College and Iowa State University. After school, Brent returned to the family farm to work alongside his dad and Gramp raising livestock and farming. In 1999 he was united in marriage to Chanel England and to this union they proudly welcomed their son, Eli whom they continued to co-parent after their divorce in 2013. In 2017 he met his soulmate, Debbie Dugan, who then lovingly devoted herself to caring for Brent after his terminal diagnosis.
Brent was a lifelong active member of the Laurel United Methodist Church where he was involved in countless activities. His passions through life included skeet shooting, trapping, hunting, scrap metal recycling, attending auctions throughout the state where auctioneers knew him well, driving demolition derby cars, stock car racing and was the family historian. His greatest passions, however, were raising his son and his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and sharing the Word of God.
Brent’s memory will be honored by his son, Eli Smith of Knoxville; his sister, Brenda (Jeff) Arnold of State Center; his brother, Brad (Kathy) Smith of Cedar Rapids; his nieces and nephews, Dani (Andrew) Haskenhoff, Tanner (Cydnie) Arnold, Sacora and Zachary Smith; great niece and nephews, Lennon, Camden and Brecken Haskenhoff; his life partner, Debbie Dugan of Laurel and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Brent is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond L. and Wanda J. Smith, Grandparents, his Uncle Larry Keese and his loyal dog, Marley that passed just four days prior.