North Manchester, Indiana - Robert Joseph Smith, 79, North Manchester, formerly of rural Cass County, passed away peacefully at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester.

A 1964 graduate of Logansport High School, Bob was drafted into the United States Army following graduation. During military service, his body was seriously burned, resulting in early, honorable discharge. Despite his injury, Bob was an incredibly proud Army veteran.

Throughout his life he was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and beautifying his property. Bob taught these same passions to his son and shared them with other family and friends. He took many hunting trips out west and to Canada with buddies to hunt mule deer, elk and bear. He even turned his hunting and wildlife passion into a small hobby of taxidermy that he did for many years.

Bob enjoyed working outside. He took pride in transforming his property, 75 wooded acres, into a certified nature preserve, ensuring a natural habitat for wildlife. His son and nephew Levi now tend to the property that he held so dear.

Bob was married in 1973 to Bette Kelly Smith, surviving, of Galveston.

Also surviving are a daughter, Aimee (Justin) Lunsford, Winona Lake; son, Matt Smith (Vanessa Spicer), Walton; eight grandchildren, Jackson Lunsford, Sophia Lunsford, Croix Smith, identical-twins Leo Smith and Judah Smith, Devon Spicer, Eli Spicer and Wyatt Spicer; and treasured nephews, Pat Parkevich and Levi Putnam.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Kroeger-Crain Funeral Home. A memorial service and celebration of Bob's life is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.

Interment, with full military honors conducted by the United States Army and Cass County Honor Guard, will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Wildlife Federation, in care of the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037.

Kroeger-Crain Funeral & Cremation is in charge of all arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed to the family and the community at www.kroegerfuneralhome.com.