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- Harriet R. Smits, 100, De Pere, passed away peacefully on Good Friday, March 25, 2016. The daughter of John and Margaret (Melchoir) Davis was born July 20, 1915 in Green Bay.
Harriet grew up on the Davis Family Farm, which is now the location of the Mid Vallee Golf Course. Her education included high school to her sophomore year. Harriet married Sylvester "Ves" Kemps, and they had one son, James.
When James was an infant, she lost Ves in an automobile accident. Harriet raised Jim as a single parent while also taking care of her mother, Margaret.
Harriet was the owner of Kemps' Airport Grill, the first restaurant at Austin Straubel Airport. After that, she became manager of the kitchen at the first K-Mart in Green Bay, located on Lombardi Street.
Harriet was extremely close with her family, and enjoyed many activities, particularly being avid Green Bay Packers fans. She and her sister, Dorothy, can be spotted in a number of iconic Ice Bowl photos.
In 1973, she married Raymond "Ray" Smits of Kimberly, WI. Their blended family had two sons and four daughters. Harriet and Ray enjoyed many happy years with their family and in retirement. They enjoyed spending time at their cottage in Crivitz, WI. Ray preceded her in death in 1998.
In 2015, Harriet celebrated her 100th birthday with three birthday parties, including a party at Rennes Nursing Home, where family from around the country joined the celebration.
Harriet is survived by her daughter-in-law, JoAnn Kemps, grandchildren Dawn (Greg) Miller, Scott (Deborah) Kemps, Carla (David) Ruth, Lee Ann (Marland) Bode, Christopher (Raquel) Kemps, 13 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is further survived by her step-daughters Karen (Nathan) Marsh, Patricia Brown and Nancy (Barton Deem) Smits, as well as her Godchild, Gail "Gigi" Bailey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings John Davis, Helen Davis and Dorothy Grafmeier, brother-in-law, Mark Grafmeier, first husband, Ves Kemps, son, James Kemps, grandson Todd Kemps, second husband, Raymond Smits, step-son, David Smits, and step-son-in-law, Bruce Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family, 1305 Lourdes Ave, De Pere beginning at 9:00AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM with Fr. Tim Shillcox, O.Praem officiating. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Sniderville. Please go to www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the family.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Rennes Nursing Home and their staff in West De Pere for their excellent care of Harriet.
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1915 - 2016 (100 years)
