William "Billy" Joseph Smetana

William "Billy" Joseph Smetana (born 9/28/59) passed from his deck on June 9, 2025 and finally relented after a fierce battle with cancer. Billy was the fourth of ten kids born to Edna and Wenzel Smetana in the idyllic Burlington, Wisconsin of the '60s, when bikes, raiding gardens, ding-dong-ditch, Mad Mountain, Echo Park, train-hopping and spirited competition laid the foundation for a fantasy childhood. Memories retold much in Billy's last years. He attended St. Mary's Grade School then St. Mary's High School. A naturally gifted athlete ahead in years by way of skill and grit, honed early on Smetana's backyard concrete and Lincoln School grass and gravel. A standout in football, basketball and baseball. A teammate of several state championships and award-winner of all-conference, county, area and all-tournament honors throughout high school. To this day, there was no logical answer as to why this left-hander with no arc to his shot, led the conference in scoring his senior year.

Upon high school graduation, Billy attended Waukesha Tech for the sole purpose of playing basketball in the holiday tournament in Honolulu and his chance to go to Hawaii. With that mission accomplished, he left school for good and began work as a carpenter with Vos Home Improvement, the springboard to a life of construction. When recently asked when it was that he desired moving to the south to escape the Wisconsin winters, Billy confessed without hesitation in his southern drawl, "When I was 8". In 1980, Billy moved to Dallas, Texas and rarely returned to the Midwest except for the occasional visit during the warm weather months. Within a year he began his own business as a subcontractor and started a family, marrying Debbie and welcoming Brooke and Ryan. By the latter '80s, he relocated to Triangle, Virginia continuing to build and improve homes in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Ashley and Madison were soon added to the family. A chance meeting brought him to Jacksonville, FL in 1995, where he spent the remainder of his days. Mostly in the field of construction and a stint in the marble business but always ending his day on his treasured homestead surrounded by his beloved dogs (Jewels, Penny Lane, Coco, Luna, Reggie and his precious Cali) and later, his productive chickens (Queenie, Eleven, Turtle, Rocky and Sophia). Billy was a devoted father, supportive boss and dedicated worker. He could be demanding but only expected what he expected of himself. He lived in a unique way with unassuming style and enjoyed a simple life. "No Frills Bill". He loved "his" music and passed from this life as he so wished: On his land, in his bed, surrounded by family and paws.

Billy is proceeded in death by his brother Steve, his father, Wenzel and brothers-in-law, Terry and Joe. He is survived by his mother, Edna. His children: Brooke, Ryan, Ashley and Madison. His siblings: Sue, Jim, Bob, Scott, Jenee, Joan, Jane and Joseph. His grandchildren: Kaden, McKenna, Jason, Kyle and Natalie. And 20 nieces and nephews.

There are no immediate plans for Billy's memorial or Celebration of Life. Information will be made available in the future. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary's Cemetery in Burlington, Wisconsin (when it's warm). We ask that you think of him the next time you hear Marvin Gaye, see a home being built, witness a circus-catch in left-centerfield, or feel a content dog lay beside you.