Paul Smits
October 18, 2011

Paul Gerard Smits, 56, went home to be with Jesus and his beloved daughter Jenna on October 10, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer, with family by his side. He was born on May 5, 1950 in De Pere to Viola (Thomson) and the late Aloyisious Smits, the seventh of thirteen great kids. He attended St. Boniface grade school, and graduated from Abbot Pennings High School in the class of 1968. Paul then joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam in 1969 in the Infantry before being honorably discharged. He came back to De Pere and married the love of his life, Julie Ann (Edges) Smits on August 15, 1970. Together they celebrated 36 wonderful years together. They also produced five great kids, who were his pride and joy. Paul's favorite things were camping, reading, fishing, hunting, golfing, and going up north with his sister, Sharon, her husband Dan and his mom, during his last summer, and of course his grandkids which he was so very proud of.
Paul is survived by his loving wife, Julie; three sons, Paul Jr. and Tammy Smits, Todd and Lynn Smits, both of Green Bay, Steven Smits and his friend Candy Gooden, Fond Du Lac; one daughter, Allie Smits, Green Bay; eight grandchildren, Zander S. Smits, Wilder B. Brewer, Parker A. Birnbaum, Austin K. Smits, Paige M. Murphy, Gwen K. Smits, Kyle and Clayton Drury; and one great grandchild, Noah Drury. Paul is also survived by his mother, Viola Smits, De Pere; his siblings, Janice and Alan Lasee, De Pere, Sharon and Dan Greene, Seymour, James and Rose Smits, Greenleaf, Richard and Sue Smits, De Pere, Joseph Smits, De Pere, Thomas and Cheryl Smits, Greenleaf, Mary and John Janssen, De Pere, Mike and Cindy Smits, Wrightstown, Roche and Betty Smits, Greenleaf, Lori and Dean Philipsen, Pulaski, Fran Otto, De Pere, and Nadine Porter, Oklahoma. Paul is also survived by Julie's family, Robert (Bob) and Patsy Edges, Howard, Bart DeBauche, Green Bay, John DeBauche, New Franken, father-in-law, Kenneth Edges and friend Tom Vincent, Kaukauna, extended family and very special friends, including Nancy Nantelle, Linda DeBauche, Carmen Thompson, Dee Frank, Gretchen Catalano, Sonya DeRuyter, Dan and Sharon Greene, Frank Davis, Bart DeBauche (they were always there for him) and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jenna Marie Smits; his father, Aloyisous Smits; two brothers, Daniel Smits and Allen Smits, and his mother-in-law, Dorothy (Hock, Edges) DeBauche.
Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, 2006 at Lyndahl Funeral Home. Visitation will continue after 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, 2700 Babcock Road, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Paul's friend, the Rev. Dennis Schatt officiating. Military honors will follow immediately after the service at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Ashwaubenon.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Unity Hospice and their employees, JoAnn, Pam, Sandy, Patty, Jessica and the rest, and to Drs. Lemkuil, Blank, and Mian, for all their great care and concern for Paul and his family during this difficult time.
Until we meet again, my sweetest Paul (I LUV YOU). You and Jenna will always be in our heart
Julie and the kids.

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