Tom Allen Smolen, age 64, passed away in his home in Norwalk, Iowa on May 25, 2026 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was a dearly beloved husband to Patty Smolen; father to Matthew Smolen, Brendan (Alyssa) Smolen, and Corrine (Will) Searight; grandfather to Caleb, Olivia, and Noah Smolen; brother to Jan (Gary) Lieberman; and uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Tom was born on May 1, 1962 to Darlene and Al Smolen in Santa Rosa, California, where he was raised. He graduated from the University of California, Berkley in 1984. He met Patty, his wife of 38 years, while they were working as actuaries at Fireman’s Fund Insurance in Novato, California. Job changes brought Tom to Des Moines in 2004, where he advanced to a senior position at Nationwide Insurance. After a 30-year career as an actuary, he took an early retirement in 2014. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, traveling with Patty, and playing cribbage and poker with friends. His true vocation in retirement was volunteering. He spent many years with Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, as an organizer for Connection Café meals with St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, for the Habitat for Humanity Core Crew, salvaging materials for the ReStore, and with the Knights of Columbus at St. John’s. Tom was a humble man, never looking for recognition of his service, but helping those he could.

A Funeral Mass will be held 2 p.m., Friday, June 5, 2026 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Norwalk, with a reception following Mass. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 4, 2026, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, with a rosary recitation at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, Connection Café, or St. John the Apostle Catholic Church.