John Wesley Smith

John Wesley Smith, 88, of Vestaburg, Michigan, died on May 26, 2025. Born January 23, 1937, in Lansing, Michigan, John was the son of Viola (Burke) and Paul A. Smith and grew up in the Lansing area, where as a young child, he could always be found in the woods with his bb gun and his dog, Bell.
From a young age, John took on odd jobs and developed a strong work ethic that would stay with him his entire life. At 18, he hitchhiked to California to work in aeronautics before returning to Michigan to begin his career with Sears. There, he met the love of his life, who kept bringing her car into the shop-just to see him, as 'his' story goes. They married in Lansing on May 27, 1958, over Memorial Day weekend.
John was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960 and stationed in Texas, where he completed sharpshooting training and worked as a missile loader with the Hawk Missile Battalion, served until returning home in 1962. After his service, he returned to Sears, working as a mechanic for a total of nineteen years. Later, he worked for six years with Oldsmobile Motor Sports.
He and his family lived in DeWitt before retiring in Vestaburg, where John took great pride in remodeling a house on Bass Lake-a place that became a treasured home and haven for outdoor living. A lifelong outdoorsman, John loved to hunt, fish, and trap. He had a particular talent for trapping muskrat, raccoon, and fox, and spent many hours training and raising coonhounds and beagles. He also raised pigeons, gardened with care, and had a deep appreciation for nature's cycles.
John spent his free time in the woods, on the lake, or on the go. But nothing mattered more to him than his family. A father of four, he was a natural storyteller and loved to joke and laugh with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were the joy of his life. His hands were never idle-always fixing, growing, and helping. His warmth, humor, and love of the land will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
In addition to Loreen, his beloved wife of sixty-seven years, he leaves his sons, Mitchell (Karen) Smith and Dan (the late Rachelle) Smith; his daughter, Cheryl (Rick) Longstreet; grandchildren, Georgia Smith, Wesley (Heather) Smith, Emily (Zack) Rodgers, Nicole (John) Zaborney, Jacob Longstreet, and Alyssa Bernardi; great grandchildren, Madilynn, Connor, Everly, Faith, Austin, Harper, and Henry; sisters-in-law, Carole Gardner and Janice Nordman, and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and many dear friends including his lifelong friend, Dave (Kitty) Maurer.
He was preceded in death by his son, John David Smith, his parents, sisters, Hazel Smith, Mary Lou Pulver, and Beverly Wisniewski, and step-father, George Vereeke.
A private Graveside Service will be held at DeWitt Cemetery in DeWitt.