Lawrence William Smith, M.D., age 90, of Racine, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, December 17, 2013, in his home. Lawrence was born in Racine on November 24, 1923, to Lawrence and Jeanette Smith, (nee Higgins). Dr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, on May 5, 2013; his parents; and his siblings, Rosemarie Kranick, Kathleen Flatley, Virginia Holbus, Patricia Konsin, Robert Smith, Richard Smith and Phillip Smith.
He is survived by his eight children: Jeffrey Michael Smith of Glendale, Wisconsin; Brian David Smith and his wife, Julia, of Miami Beach, Florida; Mark Phillip Smith and his wife, Daphen, of Cape Coral, Florida; Pamela Jeanne de Butler and her husband, Ralph, of Mesa, Arizona; Lawrence William Smith of Racine, Wisconsin; John Charles Smith and his wife, Brenda, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Jaqueline Marie Hummel of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Robert Anthony Smith and his wife, Lori, of Brookfield, Wisconsin. He is also survived by grandchildren and relatives: Ryan and Rebecca Smith, Conall and Morgan de Butler, Joshua and Emily Smith, Charles and Claire Hummel, Chloe, Parker, Madison and Jacob Smith, Cole Smith, Andres and Gabrielle Hernandez, and James McDonnell.
Lawrence was a native of Racine, leaving only to serve his medical residency at Boston City Hospital after completing Medical School at Marquette in 1946. There he met Mary T. Smith, a nurse, whom he married on November 22, 1952, in Boston, Massachusetts.
He served his country in World War II as a Navy Seaman from 1941 to 1946. He returned to the service during the Korean conflict as a Lieutenant Commander from 1954 to 1956, stationed in North Korea and later at Camp Pendleton, California. He stayed in the Reserves until he was honorably discharged in 1984.
He came home to Racine where he opened a private practice as a general surgeon. Following the closing of his practice, he was Corporate Medical Director at S.C. Johnson and Son, retiring in 1986. Following his retirement, he spent many warm winters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Lawrence was kind, smart, stoic, generous, independent and always a gentleman. He was loved by his patients, co-workers and his family. Although he will be missed by his family, he is joining his bride of 60 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 21, 2013, at 10 a.m. at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. Entombment with Full Military Honors will follow at Calvary Garden Crypts, Kinzie Avenue. Relatives and friends may meet with the family on Friday at the funeral home from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Foundation have been suggested.
MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888
