Richard Smith

Richard Smith, 47, went to be with his Lord and Savior, February 7, 2002 at Lakeland Hospital after a short illness. Visitation will be from 2-5 P.M. on Sunday, February 10, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, February 11, at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Paul Koehneke officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran School, St. Joseph, MI, or Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph. He married Anita (Gramman) May 22, 1976. Richard loved spending time with his wife, children and family. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Richard was employed at Trinity Lutheran Church and has worked for Griffen Tool, Inc., for the past 7 years as a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker. He was a 1973 graduate of Brandywine High School and received his Tool & Die apprenticeship at Lake Michigan College. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Anita, his children Brian of Tampa, FL., Angela of Phoenix, AZ, and Bradley of Fayetteville, NC. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters; Lilli (Fred) Zehm, of Baroda, Martha (Keith) Green of Stevensville, Elsie (Keith) Bermingham of Stevensville, Herb Smith of San Francisco, CA, and Robert (Danita) Smith of Watervliet, and many nieces, nephews, brothers in law and sisters in l Richard was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Helena at a young age and was raised by his Aunt Else (Art) Spletzer and late uncle Gustav Delke and their children Harold (Jane) Oelke, Alvin (Elena) Oelke, and Agathe (Dieter) Kruger. A loving husband, father, brother, and uncle, Richard will be deeply missed by family and friends.