Grover Smith

Mr. Grover Harold Smith, age 81, of Sheridan, passed away Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice after a nearly 20 year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gerhigs Disease). The son of Gladys Madge (Gordon) and Grover Cleveland Smith, he was born on Dec. 23, 1925 in Owosso. A veteran of World War II, Grover proudly served in the 11th Airborne Division of the United State Army in the Asia-Pacific theatre, as well as the Army of Occupation in Japan. He was a life member of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065 in Sheridan. After the war, he returned home and married Donna B. Soule on Feb. 28, 1948 in Stanton. A skilled tradesman, he worked for 17 years at Ionia Manufacturing, shorter stints at Master Unit Die and Gibson Refrigerator Co., and retired from Morbark Manufacturing after 19 years, in addition to farming. He was a member of the Entrican Bible Church, enjoyed restoring and selling Farmall tractors, and was well known and appreciated for his welding and fix-it skills. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Earl Bill Smith, and Alton Jeff Smith; and a son-in-law, Diz Oswald. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Donna Smith of Sheridan; a daughter, Toni Oswald of Sheridan; three sons and daughters-in-law, Darwin & Melody Smith, Douglas & Cheryl Smith, and Mark & Helen Smith, all of Stanton; sixteen grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Iretha & Edward Dilno, Hazel Hancock, Alena Kimball, and JoAnne & Lewis Nielsen, all of Stanton; three brothers and four sisters-in-law, Carl & Sandra Smith of Entrican, Charles & Maudene Smith of Portland, Jerry Smith of Leslie, Katherine Smith of Sidney, and Maxine Smith of Vestaburg ; The Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home, Greenville, was entrusted with the arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Grover Smith, please visit our flower store.