Ernest Earl "Ernie" Smith Jr.

Ernest Earl "Ernie" Smith, Jr., 66, of Rockford died on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at UW Health Hospital. He was born on April 10, 1959, in Rockford to Ernest Smith. Sr and Dorothy (Sawyer) Smith. He attended Auburn High School. He was joined in marriage to Teresa Hendry. Ernie was employed as a machinist at Advance Machine for many years. Ernie loved to take his wife Teresa gambling and he enjoyed fishing. He liked riding motorcycles with his brother Bob. He very much enjoyed yard work driving his new lawn mower to cut his grass. The thing he enjoyed doing best was spending time with his grandchildren Thomas and Davis. He also liked collecting old radios. Survived by his Wife, Teresa Smith, Son Levi Berogan, Daughter Kathryn (Will) Smith, Sister Peggy (Daniel) Heavin, Brother Robert (Paula) Smith, Grandchildren Thomas and Davis. One Aunt and several Nieces and Nephews. Preceded in death by Father Ernest Earl Smith Sr, Mother Dorothy Myrna Smith "Sis" Berogan, sister Kathy Bahlin. He was a very good person. He was loved by us all. He was a good Husband, Father, Grand Father, Son, brother, friend.. He tried to help everyone. His Nieces and Nephews always said love going to play with toys at Uncle Ernie's house. They said he always had the toys where the batteries worked, and he knew how to work the toys. It was because he always played with them before they got them. He always made the kids feel special. He had always told his daughter Kathryn that he was a simple man, with a simply life, and wanted everyone to know he was grandpa and he loved Thomas and Davis. Ernie and his brother Bobby would go riding their bikes for hours. They liked going to different places. He loved his little sister Kathy so much and when she died it was very hard for him. His family is so thankful to the Lord for the time we had with him A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, beginning at noon at Sundberg Funeral Home, 215 N. 6th Street, Rockford, Illinois 61107, and friends may visit on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until time of service. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ernest "Ernie" Earl Smith Jr., please visit our floral store.