Clarence Smet

Clarence Smet “Gramps” “Smitty”, 88, passed away Monday, October 8, 2018, at Good Shepherd Home in Seymour after struggling with leukemia and COPD for the past three years.

He was born Feb. 5, 1930 in the Town of Freedom, Outagamie County to Peter and Kathryn (DeBeukelaer) Smet.

He married Margaret (Micke) on June 11, 1958, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Wrightstown, WI. The couple recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Enlisted in the Air Force on January 1951 and was honorably discharged as Airman First Class in January 1955 after serving in the Korean War. Clarence was a member of the American Legion and St. John’s Catholic Church in Seymour for 58 years, sharing his strong faith and his industrious work ethic with family and friends.

He was a self-employed dairy farmer, mechanic and co-owner of VanZeeland Implement. Clarence loved to fish, watch football, baseball and basketball; taking care of the birds and was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend to many.

Survived by wife, Margaret; children: Thomas (Susan) Smet and their children, Craig (special friend Katie) and Adam (Andrea) Smet and great-granddaughter, Sophie; Susanne Christensen & Bob Christensen and their children, Nicole (Grant) Hanson; Paul Christensen; Jerrod (Kayleigh) Christensen; Gary (fiancé Andrea) Christensen and Janice (special friend Collin) Christensen; Joanne (Leonard) Smurawa and children, Trisha (Bob) Simpson; Erica Smurawa; Robert (Ginnie) Smet and son Clayton; Linda (Michael) Nolan; Laura (Jeff) Hofacker and children, Lathan and Rachel Hofacker; John (Renee) Smet and children, Kylee, Evan and Logan Smet; brother Francis (late Germaine) Smet; and sister, Margaret (late Norman) Bowers; brothers and sisters-in-law: Eugene (Delores) Micke; Rosemary (late Gerald) Van Eperen; Carol (Gerald) Ederer; Patty (Bob) Gerend; Helen (Bob) Fritsch; Robert Micke; Betty (Charles) Headings; Mary (Jim) Micke-Dickrell; Kathy (Paul) Miller; William (Jean) Micke; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and many furry friends.

Preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Norbert and Elizabeth Micke; sisters, brothers, and in-laws: Katherine (Clement) Schlimm; Josephine (John) Wallace; Hortense (Raymond) Van Handel; Joseph (Ceil) Smet; Edward Smet; Germaine Smet; Marion Smet and Norman Bowers; Marion (Micke) and Brian Grode; brother-in-law, Gerald Van Eperen; grandson, Dalton Brokiewicz; granddaughter, Hope Elizabeth Hofacker; and various other relatives, friends, and furry friends.

Friends may call at St. John Catholic Church, Seymour, on Friday, October 12, 2018, from 4 pm until 8 pm with a parish prayer service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 9:00 am until the funeral mass at 11:00 am with Fr. Brian Belongia and Deacon Rich Matuszak officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery.

Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home, Seymour, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to Clarence’s family at www.muehlboettcher.com

Special thanks to the staff at Good Shepherd, especially Deanne and Kim; seventh floor staff at Appleton Medical Center; Seymour Rescue squad and EMTs; and Doctor Conkright and the staff and volunteers who provided goody bags to Clarence and family during his treatments at Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology and to all family, friends and neighbors who visited and supported Clarence and his family throughout his life.

Pa-We love you and will miss you, thanks for being a great role model to all of us. We are happy you are at peace. “Well, good for you!”

Pa – Thanks for 60 great years! Love, Ma