Gene A. (Smitty) Smith passed away on May 25, 2023 at St. Catherine\u2019s Hospital surrounded by his \u201cthree sons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gene was born August 27, 1933 to Dermot and Luella (Langenbach) Smith in Kenosha, where he lived his entire life.\u00a0 At a young age, he worked as a newspaper carrier for the Kenosha News.\u00a0 He could still remember his delinquent payment customers.\u00a0 After his return from military service, he worked at Dynamatic and then American Motors working his way up to a supervisor of the crankshaft division (816).\u00a0 During the \u201clay off\u201d years at the Motors, he worked at various manufacturers, including American Brass, MacWhyte Wire \u201cWrope,\u201d and a few others.\u00a0 In 1988, he retired from the Motors as a machine repairman just shy of reaching the 30-year mark.\u00a0 A truly lucky man to be retired for more years than he worked.<\/p>\n
Gene was a Staff Sargent in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean Conflict.\u00a0 He originally was trained in the weather service but was transferred to special services and was a cryptographer.\u00a0 He was stationed in Japan where he began his love of photography.\u00a0 He was instrumental in deciphering the North Korean code embedded in the weather reports.\u00a0 He would never discuss his special assignments during his military career until only a few years ago, stating it was highly classified.<\/p>\n
On October 26, 1957, he married Yvonne A. (nee McDowell) in Cascade, Iowa.\u00a0 This was the same day as his office party in Kenosha and raced back to Kenosha on a bet with his buddies that he\u2019d never make it.\u00a0 That Nash Rambler flew!\u00a0 Yvonne passed away on January 7, 1993.\u00a0 On January 24, 1994, Gene married Patricia (nee Cass) Smith in Kenosha, Wisconsin.\u00a0 Patti passed away on September 24, 2008.<\/p>\n
Gene was a true handyman\u2014jack-of-all-trades; master of none.\u00a0 During his younger years, he was always building a garage, finishing a basement, installing electrical, plumbing, woodworking, you name it.\u00a0 He even hand built his own kitchen cabinets \u2013 not a single screw \u2013 all dovetail or glue!\u00a0 Nothing he couldn\u2019t do.\u00a0 He took pride in perfecting one project before tackling another.\u00a0 He enjoyed his CB radio (oh the 70s), farming with Leon Dreger, and later his photography.\u00a0 He enjoyed photographing landscapes and especially lighthouses.\u00a0 He took many trips around the country just to photograph lighthouses.\u00a0 He was very proud of his camera equipment and looked just like the paparazzi with his gear all strapped on him.\u00a0 Gene was also an avid bicycle rider in his younger days.\u00a0 He often raced at the Velodrome, leaving the race before the finish line so his name would not appear as the first place winner in the newspaper.\u00a0 (His parents were against his racing.)\u00a0 Gene enjoyed attending the American Heroes Caf\u00e9. Of late, with his declined mobility, he traded-in his love of photography for the Petrifying Springs Biergarten.\u00a0 He was the very first customer served when they opened in 2016 and attended every day that he could.\u00a0 Gene also was a member of the PLAV, Moose, Corvette Club, Northside Happy Hour and the Camera Club.\u00a0 He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling.<\/p>\n
Gene was a lifetime member of Friedens Lutheran Church, n\/k\/a New Life Lutheran Church where he was an usher for many years.\u00a0 He attended grade school at Frieden\u2019s and graduated from Mary D. Bradford in 1951.<\/p>\n
Gene was a devoted lifetime member of the VFW Post 1865 and active in many of their projects, including the Military Order of the Cooties (caring for hospitalized veterans) as well as cooking for the famous VFW breakfast having a breakfast platter named \u2018The Smitty.\u2019\u00a0 Gene was able to participate in the Veteran\u2019s Honor Flight in 2015 \u2013 an experience that he truly cherished.<\/p>\n
Gene and Yvonne were blessed with three daughters.\u00a0 Laurel K. Cook (Paul), Deborah A. Watson (Michael), and Kelley J. Fox (formally Martin).\u00a0 He is further survived by his grandchildren Jennifer Martinez, Gavin MacEwen, Matthew Fox and Sarah Fox as well as eight great grandchildren; one brother, Lowell (Nancy) Smith and many nieces, nephews and friends.<\/p>\n
He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Roger (Shirley) Smith.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Memorial services honoring Gene\u2019s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 at New Life Lutheran Church (East Campus), 5038 19th<\/sup> Avenue, Kenosha, WI.<\/p>\n Inurnment will take place in Cascade Protestant Cemetery, IA at a later date.<\/p>\n A gathering of relatives and friends will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.<\/p>\nInformaci\u00f3n del servicio<\/h3>\n