John J. "Joe" Smith Obituary (1936

John J. (Joe) Smith, 85, of Dwight, passed away on January 7, 2022. Joe was born on December 1, 1936, to Miley and Ira (Cary) Smith. He graduated from Young America High School in Metcalf, Illinois at the age of 16. He served in the U.S. Army as a Russian translator during the Cold War from1955 to 1958, earning the Good Conduct Medal. Joe retired from Caterpillar in Joliet after 35 years of service to the company as a maintenance supervisor. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Congregational Church where he served as a Deacon. Joe was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, played several musical instruments, and was an expert woodworker, but he loved nothing more than his family. Joe was a loving husband for 63 years to Kay (Wood) Smith. She survives in Dwight. He was also a proud and devoted dad to Kayla (Steve) Smith-Malm, Diana (Mark) Watters, Michael (Karen) Smith, and Patrick (Shannon) Smith. Joe fiercely loved his grandchildren, Ryan (Mary Beth) Andreasen, Elizabeth (Aaron) Bowden, Michael (Kristina) Andreasen, Allison Kelly, Christopher (Kelly) Watters, Alyssa (Kevin) Kucera, John Smith, Alexandra Smith, Mackenzie Haas, Hayleigh Wert, and Madelyn Smith. He also truly enjoyed his great grandchildren, Evan and Abby Andreasen, Clara and Audrey Bowden, and Sawyer, Harper, and Callan Kucera. Joe is also survived by one sister, Geraldine Rienbolt, one brother, Harold Smith, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-laws Earl Rienbolt, Don Wood, and Bill Wood, as well as his mother and father in law Irvin and Geraldine Wood. Services will be held at Hager Memorial Home in Dwight on January 12th. Visitation will be from 10 until noon with the funeral immediately following. Burial will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Dwight. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Joe was well-loved, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.