Merwin L. Smith Tuesday, September 2, 2008 June 27, 1933 - Aug. 28, 2008 SEWARD -- Merwin L. Smith, 75, died Thursday (Aug. 28, 2008) in Seward. He was born June 27, 1933, in Wilsonville to C.J. and LaVinna (Clements) Smith. He graduated from McCook High School in 1951, and received his masters from Kearney State Teachers College. On May 26, 1960, he married Anita Nordhausen in Wauneta. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1956 to 1958. After his discharge from the military, he worked as an elementary principal for several years before becoming the Title I Director for the State of Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Herman and Alvina Nordhausen; brothers-in-law, John Walter, Richard and Robert Nordhausen; and niece, Kim Walter. Survivors include his wife, Anita; sons, Michael and wife, Sandra Smith of Orfordville, Wis., and Steven Smith of Livermore, Calif.; sister, Colleen Walter of McCook; brother-in-law, Harold and wife, Jan Nordhausen of Wauneta; and sisters-in-law, Veleta and husband, Jim Sutherland of Tahlequah, Okla., Judy and husband, Rudy Evers of Wauneta and Colleen and husband, Ben Garton of Fort Collins, Colo. Services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with the Rev. Scot Bruick officiating. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Seward with military honors. Visitation is today until 8:30 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:30-8 p.m., at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward. Online condolences can be left at www.volzefuneralhome.com. Volzke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. McCook Daily Gazette McCook, NE