Wesley J. Smith
February 7, 1925 – March 29, 2021
A celebration of Wes’s life will be held at Hope Reformed Church, 910 Jenks Blvd. Kalamazoo, at 11:00 am on Saturday April 3, 2021. The service will be livestreamed on Hope Church’s FaceBook page at facebook.com/hopekzoo. Visitation will follow the service. A private family interment will take place at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park-South, prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be given to PastorCare, Samaritan’s Purse or a Bible Based Charity of one’s choice.
Obituary
Wesley John Smith slipped peacefully into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 29, 2021, at age 96, surrounded by his loved ones. Wes was born in Kalamazoo on February 7, 1925. He was preceded in death by his parents, Swier and Marie Smith; three brothers, Cornelius, Earl, and John; and two sisters and their spouses Irene and Jim Benzenberg and Genevieve and Jim Potts. He is survived by his dear wife of 74 years, Cora Ann “Co” Smith; his brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Phyllis Smith; his daughter, Linda Joy; and three sons and their wives, John and Sue Smith, James and Annette Smith, and Jeff and Amy Smith; eleven grandchildren and their spouses; and fourteen great grandchildren.
Wes graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and served during World War II in the Army Air Force. He worked for 42 years in construction as an electrical foreman, for 32 years at Cramer Electric and the last 10 years at Rowen and Blair. Throughout his career, he was responsible for the electrical work on many buildings including several local banks, the Kalamazoo College Campus, Maple Hill Mall, Eckrich Meat Company, and Welch Foods in Lawton. After retirement as an electrician, he enjoyed working with his son, Jeff for 28 years at Corners Limited, building cages. He spent the first 17 years traveling with Jeff installing cages around the country, and then continued working in the shop until retiring at the age of 94!
Wes’s love of construction enabled him to build the family home on N. Fletcher Ave in Kalamazoo and a cottage on North Lake in Gobles. He was eager to help family and friends with their home construction projects. He took great joy in helping everyone he knew without charge.
Wes loved people, and their home was always open to entertain friends and neighbors. Wes spent countless hours in his boat, patiently teaching many people how to waterski. The cottage was a favorite gathering site for family and friends.
Wes had a lifelong passion for airplanes and he pursued his dream of flying by earning his pilot’s license and flying a Cessna 172 for 25 years. During that time, he loved sharing his joy of flying with others. He spent hours giving rides to his family and friends. Multiple children from church youth groups, boy scouts, friends of his children and grandchildren experienced their first airplane ride with Wes.
Wes also dearly loved being outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, and riding trails with Co on their ATV. He loved the Upper Peninsula, and especially the Porcupine Mountains area. He joyfully taught his kids and grandkids to appreciate God’s creation through these activities. For 65 consecutive years, he eagerly participated in an annual UP deer hunting trip, before regretfully giving it up at age 94. We trust his legacy will continue through generations to come.
Wes was always actively involved in the ministry of his church. He grew up as a member of North Park Reformed Church. Wes and Co raised their family at Hope Reformed Church where he served in multiple roles as deacon, elder, Sunday School Superintendent, and Youth Group Leader. They took youth groups on several mission trips. They were also members of Third Reformed Church (Centerpoint Church) for a number of years, where he served as elder.
Wes donated six weeks of his time and expertise doing all the electrical work in the 5,000 square foot lower level of the new education building at New Life Community Church on Long Island, NY, where his son John served as Senior Pastor. The handful of church members who volunteered to help Wes enjoyed the opportunity of working with him as well as every minute of their coffee break conversations.
In retirement, Wes enjoyed meeting friends for fellowship over a cup of coffee. During the last years of his life, Wes joined a small group gathering at a little coffee shop in Kendall six mornings a week, where he was dearly loved!
Wes lived his faith and shared his love of the Lord by being a kind and loyal friend to everyone he met. Wes will be remembered for his unfailing love of his wife, family and friends, his incredible sense of humor, his gentle servant’s heart, and his diligent work ethic.
I have known Wes through my work at the Boot Haan Agency for many years. He was always a joy to talk with and always had a smile and encouraging words for anyone he spoke with. I will miss him stopping in every year and will also miss talking with him about our faith and many other things. Thankful he didn’t have to suffer too long before joining God’s choir and singing his Saviors’ praises with all the other angels.
We got to know Wes and Co at Hope Reformed Church and always received a hug and a smile. What a wonderful couple to see on Sundays. Never knew how many things he accomplished in his life, but not suprising! We have missed seeing them for quite awhile now, but know he is with his Lord and looking down at Co and the family with a smile and passing out hugs.
Thank you, John, for sharing about your father’s marvelous life. It was a testimony of a great life serving the Lord. Now I know where you got many of your God serving qualities. I am sure that you and your family know that his new life with the Lord is secure and he awaits all of you in a heavenly reunion.
My condolences and prayers for your family
Wes was a wonderful man and lived a good, long life surrounded by his loving family. It was my privilege to know Wes and Co. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I had the privilege of meeting Wes only a week ago and am sorry our time was so short. He welcomed me into his home with open arms and was a joy to work with. May God hold Wes in the palm of his hand and grant peace to the loved ones left behind.
Dear Smith family…having been born into Hope Church I know your dad was truly a member of the “greatest generation”. He was a gentle man and always smiling. I respected him very much. Linda, John, Jim and Jeff…I knew your dad loved you all very much. Mrs. Smith, I am very sorry for your loss..the 2 of you were always an example of great love for each other. He is truly a gem in Jesus’ crown.
To the family of my beloved late husband Don Potts: It broke my heart, for Aunt Co and all the family, to hear of the passing of Uncle Wes, while at the same time I rejoiced for him! To be a man such as he was and be welcomed into the presence of the Lord! Wow! I’ve held Uncle Wes and Aunt Co in such tender regard from the first time I met them! I will never forget their kindness, encouragement, and prayers in the many cards and letters they for Don, and for me, when Don fell ill and was called home to Jesus. My only regret is that I didn’t get to become a part of this loving, delightful, funny family until so much later on. I consider myself so very blessed to have gotten the chance to meet many of Don’s Smith relatives! God bless!
My uncle was truly a most wonderful man. He had a great sense of humor he shared with all. His siblings shared in that as well, most notably his older sister, my mother. That legacy lives on through my siblings and my children. I’ve shared many things with Uncle Wes, the most notable perhaps in the area of hunting. We both scored the largest whitetail deer shot through the Wyoming Outfitters Association, his in 1972, and mine 25 years later in 1997. He will be missed and always remembered.
My Uncle Wes was a good Christian man who I respected very much. I remember many outings on Saturdays in the summer at their cottege where all the family gathered for fun in the sun. He also shared many stories about my Dad at his funeral which I will always remember. I also remember when I was kid at Christmas when he tried to be Santa Claus at our home which he fooled no one but he sure did a good job. Rest in peace my dear Uncle.
The Smith and the Schreuder families go back such a long way with so many good memories. Wes truly had a long life well lived, leaving behind a family legacy to be very proud of. Wes was a great role model of a loving husband and father. Our condolences are extended to the family who so lovingly cared for him, especially in these later weeks and months. We will miss our good neighbor and friend, but take comfort to know that he has gone before us to make a place.
My sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father John. What a blessing to be raised by Chritian parents. Your dad lived a fruitful life and served in so many ways. For sure, “He has the victory ” !
Wes we are going to miss you Elaine and I thought a lot about you we miss CO also she was a great friend of Elaine’s Mother we want to tell your friends and family that we are praying for all Love Elaine and Don Martin.
We extend our condolences to the Smith family. The world lost a very devoted saint when Wes passed. We spent many great times with Wes and Co and treasured every second of them. We had many recollections during yesterday’s funeral. I (Brad) especially treasure up the time I spent with Wes wiring New Life Community Church. That was most memorable. We will miss him.