Arnie Smizer

Click Here To View Memorial Video Glen Arnold "Arnie" Smizer, 62, of Ammon, Idaho, passed away on June 12, 2014, from prostate cancer. He was at home under the care of his wife, Carmela, and Hands of Hope Hospice. Arnie was born on September 21, 1951, in Burke, South Dakota, to Glen Smizer and Lucine Haidle Smizer. He was raised and educated in Burke and graduated from Burke High School in 1970. In 1971 he was drafted into the US Army and was eventually ranked as a Specialist 4th Class during the Vietnam War. After an honorable discharge he returned to Burke in 1973. In 1977, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked as a butcher. In 1979 he met Carmela Marie Glatt. They were married on May 3, 1980, in Mesa, Arizona. They had one daughter, Lisa Catherine Smizer. In 1981 they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he continued to work as a butcher, but in 1990 he left this profession to start his own business, Arnie's Lawn Service. In 1995 he established an additional business, Smizer Tree Farm. When his health deteriorated in 2012 the Tree Farm was closed, and he officially retired from his Lawn Service in 2013. Arnie formed close relationships with all his clients, many of them became friends and remained loyal to both his Lawn Service and Tree Farm for years. He took great pride in the work that he did for each client. He provided thousands of trees to individuals across South East Idaho for windbreaks and shelterbelts. He also donated many trees to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for projects to improve the well being of the local fishing and hunting communities. Arnie's passions were fishing, hunting and gardening. Every weekend between July and September he could be found camping and fly fishing for trout in Idaho. During the winter months he could be found fishing for bass in Arizona. He donated hundreds of trees to the County Boat Dock at Henry's Lake, and helped plant those trees to improve the area for visitors seeking to camp and fish. He was a bow hunting enthusiast who hunted elk and white-tail deer. He enjoyed pheasant hunting, and quail hunting as well. As a young boy his parents taught him how to successfully grow a garden. He grew a large garden at his Idaho Falls home and often produced too much food for himself and his family, so he shared extras with friends and neighbors. He was proud of the fact that most of the food his family ate was provided from his fishing, hunting and gardening endeavors. Many have said that they admired Arnie's talent and ability to arrange his life around his keenest interests and family. One of Arnie's favorite expressions was, "No one can ever say I didn't get my share of hunting and fishing." His honesty, sense of humor, common sense and enjoyment of life without the unnecessary thrills was an inspiration to many. Arnie is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carmela Smizer of Ammon, ID; his daughter, Lisa Smizer of San Francisco, CA; and his sister Rose Kahler of Rapid City, SD. He was preceded in death by his father and mother. "You left beautiful memories and your love is still my guide, and though we cannot see you, you're always at my side." Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 16, 2014, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends for one hour prior to the services Monday at Wood East Side.

Funeral Services will be held

Monday June 16, 2014 , 2 pm at Wood Funeral Home East Side

The family will visit with friends for one hour prior to the services Monday at Wood East Side.