Obituary of Howard Smithburg

View Video Tribute Howard Raymond Smithburg was born on the family farm in Genoa, CO to August George (Gus) and Garnett Emma Smithburg on August 1, 1923 along with his twin brother Harold William. The twins were the third and forth children of eight born to ‘Gus’ & Garnett on the farm, and the oldest of the five that lived to adulthood. Howard grew up on the family farm 3-1/2 miles west of Genoa, attending school at the Anderson School, which was a country school, to 8th grade, and then in Genoa for the first two years of High School. He worked with his dad and brothers in the fields until 1939, when the family moved to Chicago, IL. Howard and his dad worked at a puffed wheat factory while Howard completed high school, with Howard’s shift running from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. The family moved back to the farm in Genoa in 1941 after Howard graduated from Wells High School in Chicago. Howard helped out in the fields from an early age, and was also responsible, with his brothers, for milking the many cows housed in the large barn built by their dad Gus, which still stands. Their farm sent 30 dozen eggs and two 5 to 8 gallon cream cans to town each week so they could get their groceries. Starting in 1937, the boys were to take gas and water to the field to keep the tractor going. The tractor had replaced the horses. Howard and Harold took great glee in hauling the gas and water cans, and watching the gas can bounce out of the truck on the way to the field! During the years of WWII, Howard spent two winters living in the Denver area while working at Gates Rubber Company making belts for the war effort. Howard often wondered how many of the belts lasted for any length of time because of how fast they were making them! Howard began farming on his own, next to his dad, in the late 40’s, and took over the family farm around 1961, which he continued to run and grow the remainder of his life. Howard and his brother Sidney spent several years taking their combines and trucks to Oklahoma where they custom cut wheat back into Colorado, just in time for their harvests. Howard liked to have his nephews over to help during farming time and harvest time. Once, when nephew Lyle was really young, he had Lyle drive the pickup with a one-way behind it while he drove the tractor with other one-ways behind to change fields. Now, Lyle hadn’t driven a pickup before, especially with equipment behind, but the trip was successfully made! Howard was a bachelor until 1973. During the summer of 1972 he met Violet Judd in Limon during a women’s golf tournament. They were very impressed with each other, and after several months of courtship they were married in Las Vegas, NV on Jan 25, 1973.*** Howard stated in a short biography he wrote in 1997 that “Marrying Violet was the best decision I ever made.â€? Howard and Violet had 36 years together, during which time they completed the raising of the children Curtis and Brenda. He taught both kids the ways of farming and enjoyed working with them and Violet to raise the crops and care for the cattle the family ran during the spring and summer. During this time, Howard learned to play golf from Violet, even though he did not have time for that “foolishnessâ€? as he called it. They spent many years playing golf here and in Arizona, where they spent their winters for 20 years or so. After retiring from the family farm, and selling their home in Arizona, Howard and Violet built a home in Limon, CO, where they spent their last years. Howard was a member of the Genoa United Methodist Church, which he began attending at a very early age, and helped to remodel and add onto it in the 1970’s. He was also a longtime member of the Lions Club, and enjoyed the yearly auctions and other events. Howard left this life quietly on February 17, 2008, surrounded by many of his family at the Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo, CO. He is survived by his son, Curtis Judd and wife Katherine and children Jenna, Celton, and Meaghan of Aurora, CO; by his daughter Brenda Higgins and husband John and children Ashley and Layne of Genoa, CO; by his sister Betty Lou Nelson and husband Bryce of Rapid City, SD; by his sister-in-law Elaine Smithburg of Flagler, CO; numerous nieces & nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Violet Elaine Smithburg, parents August (Gus) and Garnett Smithburg, sister Doris, sister Eileen, brother Stanley, brother Sidney, sister Edna, and brother Harold. Funeral services will be held for Howard R. Smithburg Friday, February 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Bob Strauch, officiating. The service will be at the Limon United Methodist Church, Limon, CO, and Howard will be buried next to his wife at the Genoa Cemetery in Genoa, CO. Pallbearers are Harry Hansen, Johnny Hollowell, Craig Nelson, Bob Smithburg, Jim Smithburg, and Lyle Smithburg. Muscians Charles Pierce sang Amazing Grace and Country Roads, accompanied by Shirley Rohrbaugh. Contributions can be made to the Genoa United Methodist Church, 203 Main Street, Genoa, CO, 80818.