May 22, 1999
Joseph W. Smith, 49, formerly of Rock Island, died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer.
A memorial mass will be held 4:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Campaign for Human Development.
Mr. Smith was born in Rock Island, where he lived most of his life. He married Rachel Fritz in 1978 in Rock Island. He was an organizer and he dedicated his life to many causes for social justice. Mr. Smith worked as a labor organizer for the United Farm Workers of America AFL-CIO in the Chicago and San Diego regional offices. While in California, he lobbied with the UFW for passage of the California Labor Relations Act, landmark legislation establishing collective bargaining rights for farm workers. He later worked at the national union headquarters in La Paz, Calif., with Cesar Chavez as the editor of the UFW's national union newspaper, El Macriado.
He was a founding member, lead organizer and first executive director of Quad Cities Interfaith, a church-based community organization. He also served as the first executive director of the Community Caring Conference, a neighborhood, block-club organization. He later worked as the executive director of United Neighbors Inc., a Davenport community organization. He served as a staff member at the Rock Island Omega House, a Catholic Worker home. After returning from California, he participated as an active volunteer with the Rock Island County Democratic Party.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jameson, Emmanuel, and daughter, Zipporah, all of West Des Moines; his mother, Adele Smith, Moline; sisters, Janet Smith, Oak Ridge, Mo., Carolyn Smith-Hensley and Elizabeth Smith, Rock Island; and a brother, William J. Smith, Rock Island. He was preceded in death by his father, William C. Smith. He will be remembered and admired for his faith and courage.
Joseph W. Smith, 49, formerly of Rock Island, died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer.
A memorial mass will be held 4:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Campaign for Human Development.
Mr. Smith was born in Rock Island, where he lived most of his life. He married Rachel Fritz in 1978 in Rock Island. He was an organizer and he dedicated his life to many causes for social justice. Mr. Smith worked as a labor organizer for the United Farm Workers of America AFL-CIO in the Chicago and San Diego regional offices. While in California, he lobbied with the UFW for passage of the California Labor Relations Act, landmark legislation establishing collective bargaining rights for farm workers. He later worked at the national union headquarters in La Paz, Calif., with Cesar Chavez as the editor of the UFW's national union newspaper, El Macriado.
He was a founding member, lead organizer and first executive director of Quad Cities Interfaith, a church-based community organization. He also served as the first executive director of the Community Caring Conference, a neighborhood, block-club organization. He later worked as the executive director of United Neighbors Inc., a Davenport community organization. He served as a staff member at the Rock Island Omega House, a Catholic Worker home. After returning from California, he participated as an active volunteer with the Rock Island County Democratic Party.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jameson, Emmanuel, and daughter, Zipporah, all of West Des Moines; his mother, Adele Smith, Moline; sisters, Janet Smith, Oak Ridge, Mo., Carolyn Smith-Hensley and Elizabeth Smith, Rock Island; and a brother, William J. Smith, Rock Island. He was preceded in death by his father, William C. Smith. He will be remembered and admired for his faith and courage.
May 22, 1999
Joseph W. Smith, 49, formerly of Rock Island, died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer.
A memorial mass will be held 4:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Campaign for Human Development.
Mr. Smith was born in Rock Island, where he lived most of his life. He married Rachel Fritz in 1978 in Rock Island. He was an organizer and he dedicated his life to many causes for social justice. Mr. Smith worked as a labor organizer for the United Farm Workers of America AFL-CIO in the Chicago and San Diego regional offices. While in California, he lobbied with the UFW for passage of the California Labor Relations Act, landmark legislation establishing collective bargaining rights for farm workers. He later worked at the national union headquarters in La Paz, Calif., with Cesar Chavez as the editor of the UFW's national union newspaper, El Macriado.
He was a founding member, lead organizer and first executive director of Quad Cities Interfaith, a church-based community organization. He also served as the first executive director of the Community Caring Conference, a neighborhood, block-club organization. He later worked as the executive director of United Neighbors Inc., a Davenport community organization. He served as a staff member at the Rock Island Omega House, a Catholic Worker home. After returning from California, he participated as an active volunteer with the Rock Island County Democratic Party.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jameson, Emmanuel, and daughter, Zipporah, all of West Des Moines; his mother, Adele Smith, Moline; sisters, Janet Smith, Oak Ridge, Mo., Carolyn Smith-Hensley and Elizabeth Smith, Rock Island; and a brother, William J. Smith, Rock Island. He was preceded in death by his father, William C. Smith. He will be remembered and admired for his faith and courage.
Joseph W. Smith, 49, formerly of Rock Island, died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer.
A memorial mass will be held 4:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Campaign for Human Development.
Mr. Smith was born in Rock Island, where he lived most of his life. He married Rachel Fritz in 1978 in Rock Island. He was an organizer and he dedicated his life to many causes for social justice. Mr. Smith worked as a labor organizer for the United Farm Workers of America AFL-CIO in the Chicago and San Diego regional offices. While in California, he lobbied with the UFW for passage of the California Labor Relations Act, landmark legislation establishing collective bargaining rights for farm workers. He later worked at the national union headquarters in La Paz, Calif., with Cesar Chavez as the editor of the UFW's national union newspaper, El Macriado.
He was a founding member, lead organizer and first executive director of Quad Cities Interfaith, a church-based community organization. He also served as the first executive director of the Community Caring Conference, a neighborhood, block-club organization. He later worked as the executive director of United Neighbors Inc., a Davenport community organization. He served as a staff member at the Rock Island Omega House, a Catholic Worker home. After returning from California, he participated as an active volunteer with the Rock Island County Democratic Party.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jameson, Emmanuel, and daughter, Zipporah, all of West Des Moines; his mother, Adele Smith, Moline; sisters, Janet Smith, Oak Ridge, Mo., Carolyn Smith-Hensley and Elizabeth Smith, Rock Island; and a brother, William J. Smith, Rock Island. He was preceded in death by his father, William C. Smith. He will be remembered and admired for his faith and courage.
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