Oswald Francis Smits

1912 - 2007  (94 years)

• Name	Oswald Francis Smits
  Born	03 Jun 1912	DePere, Brown Co, Wisconsin
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Apr 2007	Manistique, Schoolcraft Co, Michigan
  Person ID	I179225	Little Chute Genealogy
  Last Modified	19 May 2013

  
  

  Father	Martin Jacob Smits,   b. 26 Apr 1879, Town of Rockland, Brown Co, Wisconsin ,   d. 05 Jun 1972, Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin  (Age 93 years)
  Mother	Louise H VanDyck,   b. 12 Oct 1880, Grubbenvorst, Limburg, Netherlands ,   d. 02 Jan 1972, Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin  (Age 91 years)
  Married	06 May 1904
  Family ID	F72124	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Olive Marie Peters,   b. 20 Mar 1910, Hay Springs, Sheridan Co, Nebraska ,   d. 03 May 1995, Bonita Springs, Lee Co, Florida  (Age 85 years)
  Married	03 Jun 1935	Rudolph, Wood Co, Wisconsin
  Children	1. Robert James Smits,   b. 27 Aug 1936, Escanaba, Delta Co, Michigan ,   d. 07 May 2005, Ohio  (Age 68 years)   2. Gerald Joseph Smits,   b. 09 Mar 1938, Escanaba, Delta Co, Michigan ,   d. 01 Apr 1938, Marquette, Marquette Co, Michigan  (Age 0 years)   3. Jeanne Ann Smits,   b. 14 Mar 1940,   d. 07 Apr 2005, Marquette, Marquette Co, Michigan  (Age 65 years)   4. Joanne Marie Smits,   b. 14 Mar 1940,   d. 31 Dec 2005  (Age 65 years)   5. Geraldine Smits,   b. 1946, Manistique, Schoolcraft Co, Michigan ,   d. 1946, Manistique, Schoolcraft Co, Michigan  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2022
  Family ID	F167031	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		179225a.jpg
  		179225b.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Oswald "Ossie" Smits, age 94, of 609N Intake Park Road, Manistique, Michigan died April 10, 2007 at the Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique. He was born Jne 3, 1912 in De Pere, Wisconsin the son of Martin and Louise (Van Dyck) Smits and attended school there. In 1934 he moved to Manistique with his cousin Ray Van Dyck to start a grocery business. In 1936, Ray left to go back to De Pere, and Ossie went on his own. In 1936, Ossie married the former Olive Peters in Rudolf, Wisconsin. The marriage was performed by her uncle, the Rev. Francis Peters. Ossie owned and operated Smitty's IGA in Manistique for 35 years until his retirement. Ossie and Olive then spent their summer months in Manistique and their winter months at their home in Bonita Springs, Florida. Olive preceded Ossie in death on May 3, 1995 after 59 years of marriage. Ossie was a faithful member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Manistique, and was also a member of the Manistique Elks Lodge #632, the Indian Lake Golf and Country Club and the Knights of Columbus - Donald E. Messler Fourth Degree Assembly #502 of Manistique. Following retirement, he found a hobby of making cabinets and Grandfather clocks as gifts to the special people in his life. He also enjoyed playing cards, golfing, and was loved by all. Ossie was preceded in death by his five children: a son Gerald Joseph, in 1938; a baby girl in 1946; his daughter, Jeanne DePetro; his son, Robert Smits; and his daughter, Joanne Holmberg; all in 2005. He is survived by his grandchildren: Palmer DePetro, Dean DePetro, Sandra Rose, William DePetro, Shad Holmberg, Tori Henry, Donna Bailey, Scott Holmberg, Robin Mackintosh, Lori Cooper, Cherl Gerold and Kurt Smits; 14 great grandchildren; his brother, Raymond "Bud" Smits; and his sisters, Stella De Groot and Margaret Reince; along with several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, wife, wife and children, he was preceded in death by sisters, Joan Everts, Angie Schumerth, Florence VanErmen, Eloise Zirbel and Marion Smits. Visitation will be held from 10:30 am-11:30 am, Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at St. Francis de Sales Church in Manistique. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 am, at the church with Father Glenn Theoret officiating. Burial will be held in the Fairview Cemetery at Manistique. Memorial donations may be directed to the St. Francis de Sales Church of Manistique.