Duane A. Smith, 80, of Perrysburg, Ohio, passed away at home on April 22, 2021. He was born June 21, 1940 in Kinsman, Ohio to Keith and Betty Smith. He was a 1958 Vernon High School graduate. He graduated from Anderson College in 1966 and Anderson School of Theology in 1969. He received his Doctorate in Ministry from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1984.

In 1969, he began his ministry at Fairfield Church of God, Fairfield Ohio. In 1971, he was Associate Pastor at the United Methodist Church of Grove City, Ohio. In 1977, he served as Pastor of Calvary United Methodist in Toledo Ohio, followed by Trinity United Methodist Church in Swanton OH beginning in 1985, Greenville First United Methodist, Greenville OH beginning in 1993, Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church, Fremont OH, 1993, Sharon United Methodist Church Napoleon OH, 2005. He began serving his final church in 2008 at Metamora United Methodist Church, Metamora OH, retiring in 2009 after 38 years of serving the Lord.

Duane was a freemason and an active member in the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and worked with Habitat for Humanity. Throughout his ministry he served on various committees with the West Ohio Annual Conference and Districts of the United Methodist Church and with local communities in the towns where he served. He led missionary work throughout his career. He would spend his free time fishing the Great Lakes.

Duane is survived by his wife, Kay Smith, whom he married in 1995; sons, Grant Smith and Dwight (Danielle) Smith; step children, Brian (Angie) LaMee, Amanda (Jamie) Seibert; brothers, Keith (Jan) Smith, Clyde (Mary) Smith; sisters, Cedelia (Frank) Longley, Elaine (Tony) Podlogar, and Margie Smith; grandchildren, Erica (Josh) Mielcarek, Elena Smith, Caden Smith, and Grayson Smith; step- grandchildren, Katie LaMee, Brynna Gaines and Brady Gaines, Ben Seibert, and Nicholas Seibert; great-grandchildren, Carter Mielcarek, Mila Mielcarek, Hazel Mielcarek; and many nieces and nephews.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Betty Smith; and brother, Gaylord Smith; nephew, Joey Dudley; and niece, Gabby Martin.

Arrangements made by Ansberg-West Funeral Home,Toledo and Galloway-Onstott Funeral Home, Hartford, Ohio. Services will be held privately for the family.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Cherry Street Mission in Toledo, Ohio or Wood County Habitat for Humanity, Bowling Green, Ohio. The family of Duane Smith wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Browning Masonic Staff for their years of care for Duane, to Ohio Living Hospice for their compassion and care to Duane and his family, and to Amada Senior Care for their home care when he was brought home in his final weeks. To send his family online condolences, please visit www.ansberg-west.com.

Published in The Blade on Apr. 25, 2021.

(News story) The Rev. Duane Smith, a United Methodist pastor whose ministry in western Ohio spanned 38 years, died April 22 at his Perrysburg residence. He was 80.

He died of Alzheimer's disease, his son Dwight Smith said.

Mr. Smith retired in 2009 from Metamora United Methodist Church in Metamora, Ohio.

Before that he was pastor at different times at Calvary United Methodist Church in Toledo, Trinity United Methodist Church in Swanton, Ohio, Greenville First United Methodist Church in Greenville, Ohio, Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church in Fremont, and Sharon United Methodist Church in Napoleon.

Over the years he had also done missionary work and volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity.

"He was a good pastor," said Kay Smith, his wife of 26 years. "He was a caring pastor. He loved the Lord, and he loved his parishioners and he cared for them."

In 1990 more than 300 people came to Swanton High School Auditorium to attend an entertainment program about him: "This is Your Life, Duane Smith."

The program was secretly organized by Trinity's congregation, during his time as pastor there, to honor him and raise money for the church's elevator fund.

"I had no idea," he told The Blade at the time. "It was a big surprise."

During the event, Mr. Smith also received letters from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and State Sen. M. Ben Gaeth (R., Defiance), as well as from friends and acquaintances, and an autographed football from the Cleveland Browns.

"He was a selfless, generous, caring, compassionate, kind person, who cared for people deeply, with love," his son said. "People knew him as someone who would drop anything to care for someone in need."

Born June 21, 1940, in Kinsman, Ohio, to Keith and Betty Smith, he graduated in 1958 from Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and later continued his education at what now is Anderson University and Anderson School of Theology, graduating in 1966 and 1969 respectively.

After completing his theology studies he began his ministry at Fairfield Church of God in Fairfield, Ohio, and two years later became an associate pastor at the Grove City church.

He received his doctorate in ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1984.

A Mason, he was also a member of the Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club.

In his free time Mr. Smith enjoyed fishing the Great Lakes.

Surviving are his wife, Kay Smith; sons, Grant and Dwight Smith; stepson, Brian LaMee, stepdaughter, Amanda Seibert; brothers, Keith and Clyde Smith; sisters, Cedelia Longley, Elaine Podlogar and Margie Smith; four grandchildren; five step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be private. Arrangements are by Ansberg-West Funeral Home in Toledo and Galloway-Onstott Funeral Home in Hartford, Ohio.

The family requests tributes to Cherry Street Mission Ministries or Wood County Habitat for Humanity.

This is a news story by Mike Sigov. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.
Published in The Blade on Apr. 30, 2021.