Mark Lee Smith

Mark Lee Smith, 72, of Union Pier passed away unexpectedly at Franciscan Health Michigan City on his 54th wedding anniversary surrounded by his family.

He attended the Salesian Seminary in Cedar Lake, Indiana, and graduated from New Buffalo High School, class of 1968, and attended Purdue University for his associate's and bachelor's degrees, as well as the University of Notre Dame for a masters of business administration in 1987. He was also a proud veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era. His 47 year professional life focused on computer technology at Joy Manufacturing and IBM Corporation, and he ended his career as a professor and department chair of computer technology and engineering at Purdue University for 20 years where he retired in 2017.

Mark was born in South Bend, Indiana, to the late Leo and Alberta (Wilcox) Smith Jr.

On July 27, 1968, he married his true love, Barbara (Gergich) Smith. They resided in Union Pier where together they created a loving home for their three sons. Mark's life was spent as the ultimate family man, and his joy continued as his family grew to include seven grandchildren. The path of his life was guided by his faith in God and was generous with his time and great talents. He was a lifetime parishioner of Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church and served in many capacities in parish life as well as leading the expansion of their school.

Mark loved his family and his many friends. He loved learning, teaching and sharing his time and talents. He was kind, gentle, humble, thoughtful and always had a kind word. He had a great love for music since high school, and his great joy was playing guitar locally with his sons for 35 years in his family band, Generation Gap. After his retirement, he wintered in the Florida Keys where he met great friends that he loved to play music with while camping in his Airstream. The leader of the band may be gone, but his song lives on in our hearts.

Mark is survived by his wife, Barbara; and his sons, Jeremy (Amy) Smith of North Potomac, Maryland, and their children Maeve and Brennan, Jason Smith of New Buffalo, Michigan, and his sons, Jacob and Justin, and Nathan (Angela) Smith of New Buffalo, Michigan, and their children, Alexandria, Samantha and Jackson. He is also survived by his two brothers, Paul Smith and Brian (Debbie) Smith of Florida; and his two sisters, Jane (John) Guth of Georgia and Brenda (Ed) Compolo of Florida.

Visitation will be held at the Sommerfield Chapel-Starks Family Funeral Home of New Buffalo on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. A Catholic Mass will be co-celebrated at Saint Mary of the Lake Church, 718 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, on Wednesday, Aug. 3 with Father Basker Lopez and Father James Morris at 11 a.m. with burial following at Pine Grove Cemetery in New Buffalo, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary of the Lake Parish.

Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com.