David Lee Smith was born on December 3, 1953, in Oakland, Nebraska, the son of Daryl Lee Smith and Darline Lillie Miller Smith. David moved to Omaha with his family at a young age. The Smiths were one of the founding families of St. Joan of Arc Church and School in 1958 at 3122 S. 74th Street in central Omaha. David graduated from St. Joan of Arc School in 1968. He graduated from Creighton Preparatory School in 1972 and attended Creighton University, both in Omaha, Nebraska, for 2 years.

David entered the former Wisconsin Province of the Jesuits on August 15, 1974, the Solemnity of the Assumption, at the Jesuit novitiate in St. Paul, Minnesota. David was ordained on June 7, 1985, at St. John's Church in Omaha, on the campus of Creighton University, and pronounced his final vows at Holy Rosary Mission on October 6, 1991.

While in the Society, he earned an M.Div., Master of Divinity, from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, California, in 1985 and an MS, Master of Science, in Secondary Education Administration from Creighton University in 1993.

Fr. David spent most of his Jesuit life at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Oglala, South Dakota, and at Creighton University. He taught art at Red Cloud during his Regency (1979-1982) and, after ordination, was an Assistant Principal (1986-1991). He served for several years as Minister for the Creighton University Jesuit Community (1991-1994) before returning to Red Cloud as Superior (1994-1996) and art teacher (1996-1999).

In 1999, Fr. David was missioned to Creighton University where he served as Minister (1999-2001), Professor of Education (1999-2010), and Director of the Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa (2001-2013). Beginning in 2014 and ending with his sudden death, David focused his apostolic energies on shepherding the people of God as Pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Panama, Iowa; St. Mary of Fatima Parish in Portsmouth, Iowa; and St. Boniface Parish in Westphalia, Iowa. He felt welcomed and comfortable with the staff and parishioners; many have expressed how he was beloved and appreciated.

Fr. David threw himself generously and wholeheartedly into his assignment at Red Cloud Indian School, where he taught in the high school art department. He was creative, hardworking, and dedicated, always wanting to improve things and bring beauty to the environment in which he lived and ministered. He looked at what was and prayerfully imagined "what could be." He would see his students' gifts and talents and begin projects to lift everyone up with what they did together. He had the students in his art class paint a large mural of Chief Red Cloud outside the high school building and helped them create 2 wonderful, life-sized tile mosaics adorning hallways in the high school building.

Perhaps one of his most significant collaborative efforts at Red Cloud occurred after a fire on Good Friday in 1996 destroyed the mission's church, dedicated in 1898. Fr. David invited Lakota elder, Francis He Crow, to work with students to design the Lakota images in the stained-glass windows that adorn the new Holy Rosary Church. The students transferred the images to drawings, which were sent to a stain-glassier in Omaha who produced the actual windows. Another project was one Fr. David did on his own. He restored the room that served as the original chapel in the historic main building, built in 1888, which the community was using as its in-house library. He created symbols in that room that wonderfully reflected its history and the ways in which it had served the ministry. Using his many skills and talents, he never seemed to tire of imagining, building, and creating for the sake of others.

Not only did he enrich the school environment, Fr. David also blessed the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation with his faith and spiritual depth, celebrating Masses in the parishes on weekends and as needed.

Fr. David loved working with his hands. While in formation, with the assistance of a few others, he built the steps between the lake and the villa house at Waupaca, which are still usable. He was extraordinarily generous. He would see things that needed to be done, and would take care of them. He rarely, if ever, said no to anyone who requested his help.

Fr. David's generosity, care for others, and desire to bring beauty into the world endeared him to everyone he encountered. He will be greatly missed by his Jesuit brothers, the priests of the Diocese of Des Moines, and his parishioners at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, St. Mary of Fatima Parish, and St. Boniface Parish. A measure of the diocese's respect and appreciation was shown by Bishop William M. Joensen presiding at his funeral Mass.

Fr. David Lee Smith, SJ, passed away at 2:15 p.m. on July 9, 2021, in Harlan, Iowa, at 67 years of age while serving as Pastor of 3 Shelby County parishes.

He is survived by his siblings, Liane (Tony) Gulizia, Cindy (Jerry) O'Hagan, Shari (Greg) Folger, Bryan (Sandy) Smith, Allan Smith, Lance (Shari) Smith, Danny Smith, and Susie (Patrick) VanDeventer. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sisters-in-law, Lisa Smith and Mary Smith.

Arrangments were by and Visitation was on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. wake service at the John A. Gentleman Mortuary, 1010 N. 72nd Street, Omaha, NE 68114. Further Visitation was on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary our Lady of Fatima Church, 502 4th Street, Portsmouth, IA 51565.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa. Bishop William M. Joehnsen, of the Diocese of Des Moines, was the principal celebrant. Principal concelebrants were Jesuit Frs. Lorn Snow and Thomas Shanahan. Homilist was Fr. Thomas Shanahan, SJ. A 12:00 p.m. luncheon followed the funeral Mass. Burial was on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 4912 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE 68106. In lieu of flowers, memorials were requested to St. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

Information from the original memorial, taken from the July 11-13, 2021, Omaha World-Herald. Extensive additional information from the website of the Jesuit Midwest Province and from personal knowledge. Combined, edited, and submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.