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- Patrick C. Smith, 91, of Neenah, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at Park View Health Center, Oshkosh.
Pat was born March 17, 1921, in Appleton, the son of the late Harry and Viola (Zimmerman) Smith. As a young man, Pat earned the Eagle Scout award of the Boy Scouts of America. Following high school, he served in the United States Army attaining the rank of Sergeant during World War II. He was in charge of the dental laboratory at Camp Cooke, California. Pat was united in marriage to Eileen VanderVelden on April 11, 1944, in Little Chute. They celebrated 69 years of marriage together!
Pat and Eileen started their business, Twin City Dental Laboratory, in Neenah in 1946. Their first dental laboratory was in a rented room in the personal office of S.F. Shattuck in downtown Neenah. Together the Smiths developed a long-term friendship with Mr. Shattuck characterized by mutual respect. Through the years, with the help of long-time valued employees, their business became a successful and highly respected dental laboratory. Pat was President of the Associated Dental Laboratories of Wisconsin, serving two terms. He was a Director for one term at Milwaukee Area Technical College and served on the Board of Midwest Dental Lab Association. In addition, Pat was President for two terms of the Dental Technicians Society of Milwaukee. Pat and his son, Patrick T. Smith, were featured in an article that was published in the Post-Crescent entitled "Crown Princes of Dental Work".
Pat was a long-time member of the Neenah Rotary Club and a 60 year member of the American Legion. The Smiths are parishioners at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Neenah. Pat was a master craftsman and woodworker, having built two sailing ship models that were each three years in the making. They were displayed at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum during its Maritime Exhibition. He was an exceptional scale modeler, jeweler, goldsmith, artist, woodcarver and also a student of art and history. He had a passion for growing orchids in his greenhouse and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a true love of nature and the outdoors.
Survivors include his loving wife, Eileen; two sons: J. Michael (Linda) Smith and their daughter, Anne Katherine Smith, all of Florida; and Patrick (Margaret) Smith, Neenah, their son, Christopher (Holly) Smith, and great-granddaughter, Savannah, all of Las Vegas; a brother, Warren (Elaine) Smith and their sons: James (Barbara), Peter (Denise) and Steven; other nieces and nephews: Richard (Carol), Matthew (Kathy), Ann, Mary Jo (Tom), and William.
The memorial Mass for Patrick will be Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 11:30 a.m., at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 900 Geiger St., Neenah, with Father Richard Allen officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday until the hour of Mass at the church. Inurnment will be in the Shrine of Heaven Mausoleum, Neenah. In lieu of flowers, a memorial, in Pat's honor, has been established for St. Gabriel Parish, the Salvation Army and the Boy Scouts of America.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Park View Health Center Woodside One staff for their exceptional care and assistance.
Patrick lived by the simple rule - "If you have integrity nothing else matters; if you don't have integrity nothing else matters".
We miss you Dad and we love you.
Westgor Funeral Home
205 W. Doty Ave.
Neenah 722-7151
Online condolences at:
www.westgorfuneralhomes.com
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1921 - 2013 (91 years)
