Mark Smith Obituary

Mark Smith of Des Moines, a longtime leader of the Iowa Federation of Labor and an outspoken advocate for working men and women, died on December 4, 2015. He was 71.

Mark was born on June 5, 1944 in Chicago to Elsa and Don Smith. He grew up in Osceola, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University and obtained a masters degree from Purdue University.

He married his wife, Marty, in 1966, and, with her, raised their children Christina, Michael and Erich. They lived in Northern Indiana, moving to Iowa City in 1974 and Des Moines in 1980.

He taught school at Penn High School and Schmucker Middle School in Mishawaka, Indiana, before finding his calling in the labor movement. He was a labor educator at the University of Iowa Labor Center from 1974 to 1979, where he taught union leaders throughout the state and was active in documenting the oral history of the Iowa labor movement. In 1979, Mark was elected secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Federation of Labor, which represents about 50, 000 union members statewide. He served in that role until 1997, when he was elected president, and remained in that post until he retired in 2008. He was inducted into the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Hall of Fame.

Mark was active in Democratic politics at the local and state level. Mark was elected to the Des Moines school board, serving from 1987 to 1990, during which time he presented Hoover High School diplomas to his sons Michael and Erich. He frequently wrote letters to the editor of the Des Moines Register regarding causes that were important to him, on subjects from regressive taxation, union rights, and the homeless to proper grammar.

Mark co-founded the Iowa Policy Project in 2001, and served on its Board of Directors until June of this year. He was also a supporter of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

Smith described himself in a 1997 interview with The Des Moines Register as a proponent for Iowans "who go to work every day and play by the rules yet don't get a fair shake."

Mark was described by his associates as a concerned, articulate and strong leader. "He is one of the most intelligent and progressive labor leaders I have ever met," said Roberta Till-Retz of Iowa City, a longtime labor educator, in a past interview with the Des Moines Register.

Mark was never afraid of controversy. He supported Des Moines school board member Jonathan Wilson in Wilson's unsuccessful try for re-election to the board in 1995 after Wilson disclosed he was gay during an era when many public officials who were homosexual remained in the closet.

In addition to his social justice and political interests, Mark was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and enjoyed playing blackjack.

Mark is survived by his wife of 49 ½ years, Marty, his three children, Christina Smith (Matt Blevins), Michael and Erich (Jaime), grandsons Isaiah and Zachariah, siblings Bruce (Pam) and Hope (Ron), and cousin Kris Daniels (Rich). He is preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Iles Westover Chapel, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make donations to Iowa Policy Project, Food Bank of Iowa, or Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Online condolences are welcomed at IlesCares.com.

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