Lonna M. Smith

Lonna Mae Smith, age 85, passed away in Grand Haven, MI, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Lonna was born on August 12, 1940, in Wauwatosa, WI, to Gilbert and Grace (Jahnke) Eger, and she graduated from Brookfield High School.

Lonna was born and raised in Wisconsin, but in the late 1970s Lonna purchased the White House Supper Club in Mohawk, MI, which she operated for several years. Following her time there, Lonna moved to Minocqua, Wisconsin. Lonna worked at the Concord Inn, the Lakeland Times, and spent many years working in the advertising department of Journal & Topics Media Group, a job that allowed her to travel and experience the local charms that different small towns had to offer. Lonna was still working for Journal and Topics when she moved to Grand Haven, MI in 2015.

Lonna loved spending time outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and camping. She even started a snowmobiling club in the U.P. She liked antiquing and selling her finds.

Her faith in the Lord was deep and very important to her, and in the last ten years she attended church at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grand Haven whenever she could.

She was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, zealous hostess and party planner, loved baking and cooking, found great delight in crafting, writing poetry, and enjoyed the occasional cigarette. She was a kind, generous, stubborn, resilient, loving woman who always tried to make the people around her feel special. More than anything she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her son, Craig, and great-grandsons, Otto and Gunnar.

Lonna is survived by four children: Lori (Tony) Ryherd, Carrie Piche, Robert Schoenecker, and Craig Schoenecker; five grandchildren: Lindsey (Ben) Barkow, Ross Boettcher, Chelsea Boettcher, Ben Schoenecker, and Kaitlyn Schoenecker; great-grandchildren: Otto, Gunnar, Luca, and Max; brother, Dean (Arlene) Eger; nephew, Gilbert "Butch" (Julie) Eger; Niece, Peggy Eger; Joe (Laurie) Schoenecker; and friends Dianne and Sandy . She was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Grace Eger; son, Scott Schoenecker; and brother, Norm (Shirley) Eger.

Per Lonna's wishes no public services are being held, but memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church in Grand Haven, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI, 49417.