Leonard William Smith

Leonard William Smith, 93, of Greer, S.C. formally of Stevensville, MI passed away Monday, September 1, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, S.C. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, September 5, 2008 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road St. Joseph, officiated by Pastor Bill Zebell with burial to follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 – 11:00 prior to the service at the funeral Home. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the donor’s choice. Friends wishing so send a condolence may do so on the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com Leonard was born October 4, 1914 in Benton Harbor, MI, to Leonard John and Grace Adelaide Freestone Smith. He married Gertrude May Versaw on August 14, 1936, Leonard and Gertrude celebrated 72 years together. He retired from Industrial Rubber Goods Co. where he headed the Production Control Department & later in the Sales Department for 33 years. He also retired from Standard Products Co. of Cleveland Ohio where he was Sales Service Manager for 11 years. Leonard was a life time member of the St. Joe Elks lodge #541 and F&AM lodge #437. He loved to golf and he was a loyal Chicago Cubs fan. He is survived by his wife Gertrude of Greer S.C.; two sons Douglas (Mary) Smith of Shawnee KS, Dennis (Charlotte) Smith of Casper WY; two daughters Janice Miller of Bridgman MI, Nancy Strefling Lake Placid, FL; 17 grandchildren Gigi (Maurice) Mintken, Debbie Smith, Denise Siems, Scott (Tina) Smith, Tammy (Bill) Zebell, Gordon (Nancy) Miller, Julie (Geof) Glovsky, Tina (Ron) Sudderth, Sandi (Kevin) Kiel, Mark (Fran) Strefling, Chris (Cheryl) Strefling, Lisa (Todd) Smith, Susan Strefling, Sara (Jamie) Conklin, Jason Strefling, Katie (Micheal) Denton; 29 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; Leonard & Grace; two sisters Adelaide & Ethel; four brothers Percy, Wilbert, Duane and Claudius; one granddaughter Nanette Strefling; one great-grandson Joshua Sudderth.