Lillian Smith Piechowiak

1928 - 2023

Lillian Smith Piechowiak, age 95, of Sherman Township, peacefully passed to heaven on Oct. 26, 2023, at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City.
Lillian was born on Aug. 26, 1928 in Tawas Township to the late Theodore and Margaret Anschuetz. Lillian developed her strong work ethic growing up on the family dairy farm as the oldest daughter. Lillian was just nine years old when they got electricity at the farm, using oil lamps and windmill powered lights until then.
Lillian graduated from East Tawas High School in 1946. After high school, Lillian went to work as a secretary for National Gypsum Company from 1946 to 1949. On Jan. 22, 1949, she married Walt Smith. They built the home that Lillian lived in the rest of her life and had three children. After he died in 1957, Lillian raised the children by herself.
Lillian went on to work at Farmers & Merchants Bank in Whittemore in the 1960s, later back to the National Gypsum Company from 1967 to 1968 as a clerk, and then to Jefferson Trucking Company in 1968 where she served the role of a clerk and office manager for 17 years until her retirement in 1985.
Lillian married Don Piechowiak on May 23, 1983. Together they enjoyed spending time outdoors, fishing and grandparenting until his passing on Oct. 30, 1997.
Lillian joyfully gave her time to the church and was a member of the Altar Society. She was elected and served as Sherman Township Treasurer (1957 to 1967), Whittemore-Prescott School Board Treasurer (1972 to 1980) and on the Iosco County Intermediate School Board (1981 to 1986). She was a National Gypsum Employees Credit Union Auditor for 13 years.
Lillian enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening and watching wildlife in her yard, cheering on Detroit sports teams such as the Pistons and Tigers, and most importantly spending quality time with family and friends especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Lillian is survived by her son, Michael Smith; stepchildren, Alan Piechowiak and Lenore Piechowiak; sisters, Rose Warner, Grace (Orville) Revord, Joan Jordan, and Alice (Larry) Finley; grandchildren, Olivia (Dante) Tucker, Andrew Smith, Megan (Jacob) Peterson, Sean (Carrie) Locey, and Patrick (Alyssa) Locey; great-grandchildren, Destiny, Preston, Lila, Felix, Aslan, Yazmine, and Rose; and over 20 nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Lillian was preceded in death by her husbands, Walt Smith, and Don Piechowiak; children, Sandy Smith and Tom Smith; brothers, Ed Anschuetz, Russ Anschuetz, Jack Anschuetz, Theodore Anschuetz Jr., and Ken Anschuetz; and sisters, Joyce Burke, and Mary Lou Anschuetz.
Visitation for Lillian will take place at Buresh Funeral Home in Tawas City on Friday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. A scripture service will be prayed at 7 PM at funeral home. Her funeral mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church in Whittemore on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. The family will welcome the public for a period of visitation at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Lillian will then be laid to rest at St. James Catholic Cemetery following the service.
Any memorial contributions may be made out to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You may leave an online condolence at www.bureshfuneralhomes.com.