Kenneth L. Smith

Ken was a true blue University of Michigan alumnus, having graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He was a brother in the Acacia fraternity, maintaining friendships from that time through many years and travels.

Ken grew up in Owosso. His father died when Ken was twelve years old, and he worked to help his mother and sisters during the Great Depression, at one point delivering papers after school and then setting up bowling pins at night. He spent many summers in Manistique by Indian Lake in the Upper Peninsula with the Smith relations.

Ken served in the U.S. Army during World War II, arriving in France just as the war ended. Returning from war, Ken worked his way through the University of Michigan, where he met nursing student Norma Mackelwich. They married in 1950 and Ken started his career as a salesman with Cutler Hammer in Milwaukee, moving to Detroit, where their children were born. After that they lived in Saginaw, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Davenport, Iowa. In 1969, Ken and Norma bought the Lansing business Michigan Brass and Electric Company, moving the family here to stay. He developed the business into a successful enterprise with three locations. Retiring and selling the business in 1989, he and Norma continued their many travels around the world. He especially loved Key West, Florida and Palm Springs, California.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Peter and Anna Mackelwich, and brothers-in-law Albert Mackelwich, James Patterson and Alfred Boulee. He is survived by wife Norma of 67 years, son Kenneth Mack Smith of Lansing, daughters Jana Smith of Ann Arbor and Karen (Joe) Fielek of Okemos, grandsons Joe Fielek III of Madison, WI and Peter Fielek of Chicago, sisters Phyllis Patterson of Estero, FL, Donna Boulee of Ludington, and Carol (Ray) Langston of Florissant, MO, a niece and several nephews, and various cousins in the U.P. and Owosso area. The family wishes to express thanks to caregivers Nikki Kuri, Danielle Schieberl, Brittney Schieberl and Elizabeth Sullivan for many years of gracious and tireless care, and to the many kind and competent medical professionals who cared for Ken over the years.

Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Saturday February 24, 2018, preceded by visitation at 12pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 900 E. Michigan Ave. Interment will follow in Deepdale Memorial Gardens in Lansing.

The family is being served by Gorsiline Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing. Online condolences may be expressed at www.grlansing.com.