Kathlyn “Kathy” Smith

Kathy attended nursing school in Gary, Indiana. She took her RN Nursing Board in Chicago, Illinois. Kathy moved to Marion, Iowa and worked as an RN at the University of Iowa Hospital for 17 years. She then moved to Des Moines and worked as a Hospice Nurse for 25 years.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 38 years, David Smith of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Jesse Fortney of Hiawatha, Iowa; daughters, Wendy Weig of Clinton, Iowa and Tonya Fortney of North Liberty, Iowa; 4 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; and her sister Linda (Ray) McCabe of Clarion, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Gary Fortney; parents, Willis Brokaw and Paula (Mueller) Brokaw; son, Jason Fortney; and her siblings, Kenny and Jim Brokaw; Jeanne (Larry) Parsons and Lu Ann Harp.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home; 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.