Obituary for Donald Smith Donald Clyde Smith, 80, of Traverse City passed away October 7, 2018 at Munson Medical Center with his family by his side. Don was born on August 25, 1938 in Traverse City to the late Claude Smith and Crystal Allen. He was raised with his nine siblings and was a hard worker from a very young age.
In 1957 he enlisted in the United States Army. This proved to be one of the best decisions of his life as it was in Germany while he was deployed that he met the love of his life, the former Rita E. Korsitzke. After he was honorably discharged he was able to continue their love story and she moved to America.
The two sweethearts married on August 1, 1959 and have shared 60 wonderful years together. Don had an entrepreneurial spirit and was able to always provide for his family. He worked for Tru-fit trousers, Dickson Distributing Company, was the owner of Union Market with his brother Jim and Papa J’s Pizza with his wife Rita.
He then worked for Bata and retired in 2003. Don will be remembered for his quick wit, caring nature and the way he adored his beloved wife Rita and his entire family. He was an avid outdoorsman, and was passionate about hunting and fishing throughout his life.
To those who knew him, he was “The Great White Hunter”. He knew all of the “good spots” and was very skilled when it came to hunting. He loved reading anything and everything he could get his hands on, and often joked with his family, “if I don’t know it, it ain’t worth knowing”.
Two tracking and Sunday Drives were also two of Don’s favorite things to do. He had a sixth sense for finding morel mushrooms and loved going out in the woods with his family to hunt for these little treasures. Above all else, family was the most important thing to Don.
He will be dearly missed. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings John, Robert, William, Richard, Gerald, Thelma and Lawrence. Don is survived by his wife Rita; children Donald of Traverse City, Tonya (Tim) Slack of Troy, Brian of Traverse City and Troy of Traverse City; grandchildren Amber, Tarah (Keith), Nicole, Cora, Tia (Nathan), and McKenna; great grandchildren Mason, Kennedy and Arielle; and siblings Priscilla and James (Phyllis).
Don’s life will be celebrated privately. The family would like to extend their deep thanks and appreciation to the all of the nurses, and especially nurse Loree, and doctors at Munson who cared for Don and always treated them with such compassion and care. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Salvation Army.
Please visit www. reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family. The family is being cared for by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
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