Neal R. Smith

Neal R. Smith, of Sullivan, WI, passed away on July 18, 2017 just 11 days short of his 86th birthday, at Memory Care in Watertown. He was born July 29, 1931 in Friendship, WI, the son of Percifer F. and Bertha (Pierce) Smith. Neal was two years old when his family moved to Sullivan when his dad was hired as the chief executive officer of the Farmers State Bank (now a branch of Premier Bank) to lead the bank’s recovery out of the Great Depression. He attended St. Norbert High School for his freshman year and graduated from Jefferson High School, Class of 1949. He graduated from State Teachers College, Whitewater, WI, Class of 1953. For several years he taught school in Sullivan and Brookfield. Then his dad asked if he wanted to learn the banking business. Neal was with the bank for twenty-one years. He then owned and operated the Smith Insurance Agency until his eye sight failed him due to macular degeneration. He was a member of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish, Sullivan, and of the Knights of Columbus. Neal had been active in his church and in the community serving as a volunteer fireman and as a member of the Planning Commission. His passions were hunting and fishing, both of which he did with his dear friend Lyle Northey for over fifty years. He was a Brewers, Packers, and Badger fan, and also enjoyed playing golf and a good poker game. On June 22, 1992, Neal married Anne Putnam who he met on a blind date set up by his son Andy. She survives him, along with his children Anne (Stanley) Sawvell, Oconomowoc; Michael (Mary) Smith, Huntersville, NC; Matthew (Ginny) Smith, Watertown; Benjamin Smith, Adams; Andrew (Amy) Smith, Brookfield; and Brian Smith, Sullivan; fourteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother Lewis, Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law Geri Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Joseph; sisters Lorraine, Janis, and Nola; brother Mahlon; brother-in-law David Helphin; and his former wife and mother of his children Virginia Daniels Smith. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 25, 2017 from 9:30 am until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church, Sullivan. Burial will be in the St. Leo's Catholic Cemetery, Friendship, alongside his parents and two of his sisters at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library, 813 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233-1436 which provided talking books to Neal for over 17 years; or the Sullivan Volunteer Fire Dept, PO Box 95, Sullivan, WI 53178 on which he proudly served for many years.