Obituary for Garry W. Smith
April 15, 1938 – June 17, 2023
Garry W. Smith, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Aurora Medical Center-Mount Pleasant on June 17.
Garry was born in Milwaukee on April 15, 1938, to Walter and Margaret Smith. He married the former Mary Jo Lipscomb, celebrating 61 years of marriage.
He was employed at AMC and WE Energies. Garry was a very family-oriented man. He shared his talent for art with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching them to paint. Garry loved to see his interests and hobbies showing through in his grandchildren.
He was a tenacious, strong-willed man, but always treated everyone he met like an individual. He would tell you that he had the cleanest pool and greenest grass in the neighborhood. At some time or another most people have stopped and had a cup of coffee with him at McDonald’s. Garry also enjoyed going to the horse races. He was full of life and will always be remembered as sassy, vivacious and witty.
He will be missed by his loving wife, Mary Jo Smith; daughters, Colleen (David) Aegerter, Maureen (James) Cannalte and Kathleen (Jeffrey) Stone; grandchildren, Anthony (Stephanie) Morelli, Edward (Alyssa) Morelli, Cassidy Morelli, Amber (Lucas) Nolan, Autumn, Levi, April, Steven, Araya, Blaze and Israel Cannalte, Sarah Shelby, Hannah Stone, Robert Babiak, Sarah (Kenny) Butler and Leah (Moshe) Babiak; 25 great-grandchildren; and sister, Hope “Dolly” Kohn. Garry is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by grandchildren, Elisabeth and Melody Cannalte and Joseph Morelli; his parents; and brother, Wayne Smith.
Services
A visitation for Garry will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at noon on June 23 at Purath-Strand Funeral Home. A private family interment will take place in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials to Food for the Soul (4414 Northwestern Ave. Racine, WI, 53405) have been suggested.
The family would like to thank the ICU staff at Aurora Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, with special thanks to Erica and Karolina for the exceptional care given to Garry.
Obituary and photo courtesy of Purath-Strand Funeral Home.
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