Dewey Allen Smith, age 76, passed away on April 21, 2015 at his home in Hillsboro, Wis. with his family by his side.
Dewey was born Feb. 4, 1939 in East Prairie, Missouri. Dewey was a loving husband, dad, grandpa/papa, great-grandpa/papa, uncle, brother, son and friend. Dewey married his wife, Donna Marie (McKee) Smith, on Oct. 7, 1961; they were married for 53 years. The couple lived in California for 41 years, they later moved to Hillsboro, Wis. in 2002, where his daughter, Theresa, and four granddaughters live.
Dewey joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 in Long Beach, California; this is where he met his wife. When he was discharged from the service in 1962, he got a job at an ice cream plant, where he was in the Teamsters union for 30 years; he later retired in 1994. He also received an Associate’s degree in accounting by going to college in the evenings.
Dewey really enjoyed going to the casino, gardening, walking with his wife to Hillsboro Drive-in for an ice cream cone in the summer, sitting in his driveway with his great-grandson with fly swatters getting the flies and wasps, spending time with his wife, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and listening to Elvis Presley.
Dewey is survived by his wife, Donna Smith, daughters: Theresa Janecek (Tim) and Dana (Clyde) Hawkins; six grandchildren: Maigen Morris (Mark), Jennifer Morris (Dave), Shelby Janecek (Pat), Kelli Janecek (Warren), Fallen Hawkins and Clyde Hawkins; two great-grandchildren: Jaxson Morris and Elly Morris; two sister-in-laws, Berta and Diane, tons of nieces and nephews.
Dewey is preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; brothers: Jimmy (Roberta) Smith and Willie (Shirley) Smith; sisters: Glenda (Butch) Scheffer, Judith Irby; Mother-in-law, Gladys Marie Barnett.
There will be a celebration of Dewey’s life at the Hillsboro Brewing Company on May 2, 2015 from 4-8 p.m. The Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro assisted the family with arrangements. For online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com
Thank you to St. Joseph’s Health Services, Gundersen Lutheran of La Crosse, Wis., Picha Funeral Home and Home Health United for all their care.
