James Henry Smart

Rochester- Funeral Services for James H. Smart, 87 who passed away at the Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth on April 23, 2011 will be held at Homestead United Methodist Church, 11:00A.M. on Thursday, April 28th with Rev. Becky Jo Thilges officiating. He will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 P.M. To 6:00 P.M. At Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, and then on Thursday at the Church from 10:00A.M.-11:00A.M.James Henry Smart was born at 817 7th St. S.E. On Tues. Sept. 18th 1923, to Charles and Maude, with a older sister Alice Virginia at home. Jim's education included Hawthorne Elementary, Rochester Jr. High School, Rochester High School and Rochester Jr. College, which was on the top floor on the Coffmann Bldg. also the same location as the High School. When 16, Jim decided he wanted to play a musical instrument so he took lessons and learned to play the trumpet. He was in the Rochester High School marching band plus the orchestra under the direction of H.P. Jones. Jim also sang in the Rochester High School Chorus under the direction of Ms. Helen Church Nachreiner. In his Senior year he had his own dance orchestra "Music in the Smart Style" , entertaining at the Viola Gopher Count and the High School dances in the Gymnasium, after a meeting with Roy Tozier, Principal of the High School in exchange for the school buying some of their stock arrangements. Jim was a member of the United Brethren Church, which was located on E. Center St. and sang in the choir under Flora Bliss the Director, her sister Mrs. Earl Irish was the Pianist. The church was taken over by the United Methodist Churches, which became Homestead United Methodist Church. Jim continued singing in the choir under Ms. Fern McKnight as Director. His first professional job, playing trumpet, was with the Otto Stock Orchestra, playing 3 nights a week at the Trianon Ballroom located between Rochester and Pine Island.. Jim also played trumpet with Sandy Ward, Bennett Greten, Kuhfuss Brothers and the Gardy K. Orchestras. Jim also played trumpet and sang in the staff orchestra of the Valencia Ballroom and the Gardens Cafe and Night Club.His music career spanned 15 plus years, playing many of the early Cancer Telethons. Also on TV with the Kuhfuss Brothers Orchestra in the quonset hut on Hennessy Hill on Sunday afternoons, with MC Bernie Lusk, and the program being sponsored by the Wilson Meat Packing plant of Albert Lea. Jim started employment at the Mayo Brothers Clinic April 10th 1953 and retired Dec. 31, 1985 as a Lab Technician in the Dept. of laboratory Medicine. On Dec. 15th 1945, Jim married Helen Marie "Sammy" Dornack, in front of the fireplace at his parents home. Three children were later born, Steven Michael, Polly Lou (Scott Zodrow) and Charles Harold (Valarie). Sammy passed away from Leukemia April 3, 1974. Sept. 16th 1977 Jim and Ruth Audrey Kuhfuss (Wheeler) were married. Ruth passed away March 27, 2001 of Emphysema. Being a widower again Jim spent his time reading, listening and making recordings from his record collection, watching the Vikings, Twins and Gopher sports. He also enjoyed being outside a as much as possible. He is survived by the above mentioned children , 3 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. His sister Alice V. Young passed Dec. 19th 2004.Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place N.W. Rochester, MN. 507-289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com