William P. Smithing

William “Bill” Smithing (87) passed away of natural causes following a short hospice on Saturday, April 25th at his home in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin surrounded by those he loved. He was a wonderful husband to Patricia McKeown Smithing to whom he was married for 57 years until her passing in April of 2018. Bill is survived by six loving children: Michael (Kati Kovacs) Smithing of Budapest, Hungary; Karin (Mark) Francis of Alpharetta, GA; Steven (Joleyn Braun) Smithing of Nashville, TN; William E. (Trish Brundage) Smithing of Brookfield, IL; Christopher (Haley Swenson) Smithing of Mt. Juliet, TN; and Peter (Kate Donaldson) Smithing of Alpharetta, GA. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren.

Bill grew up as an only child on a farm without running water or electricity in Hampshire, IL during the depression. In 1938, the family moved to Elgin, IL where Bill graduated from St. Edward High School. Bill served 4 years in the United States Navy during the Korean war, graduated from the University of Illinois on the GI Bill and received his MBA from Ohio State University. Bill and his family lived many places throughout the country during his business career with Merril-Dow, Dr. Scholls, Schering Plough and later as a community college teacher at Stanley Tech in Albemarle, NC. Bill’s favorite place to be was Woodhill Resort, his home in Lake Tomahawk, WI. Bill and Pat ran Woodhill Resort on Tomahawk Lake for 42 years. Many guests were like family, coming year after year to enjoy a week or more in the beautiful northwoods. Bill enjoyed puttering around the resort in his John Deere Gator, treasure hunting local estate sales with Pat, refinishing antique furniture and having a gin or two on the porch overlooking the lake at the end of the day. Bill was a storyteller and he loved to speak and carry on with most everyone he met. He touched many people and he will be dearly missed by family, friends and the many guests who had the good fortune to meet him.A memorial mass for Pat and Bill will be held on July 17 at 11:00 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Woodruff with a reception to follow at Woodhill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Edward School 335 locust St, Elgin IL 60123
Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com
NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES OF WOODRUFF, WI IS SERVING THE FAMILY.