Kenneth L. Smith, Jr.

Kenneth Lyle Smith “Smitty” Jr., age 45, of Grand Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 29, 2019 from Diabetes complications. Ken was a loving son, brother, and nephew that was blessed with a sense of humor. He was known for many pranks and always loved to have fun. Ken was a faithful and valued employee for Spartan-Nash for 25 years in the printing department. He had a love for racing. Many Saturday nights were spent at Berlin Raceway racing cars, and more recently he was racing RC cars and snowmobiles. Ken was also an avid sports fan, always cheering on his Michigan Wolverines.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Robyn Smith, and his grandparents. He will be lovingly remembered by his father and stepmother, Ken and Yvonne Smith, sister, Jolee Ann Smith; loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Relatives and friends may meet the family Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW.  Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association.

Leave Your Tribute Message

January 05, 2020 3:08pm
My thoughts and prayers are with your family

- don young

January 01, 2020 8:42am
Smitty, I was shocked to hear of your passing. Life just isn’t fair sometimes (well most of the time). You were truly one of a kind. You were a sour patch kid.... “sour, sweet, gone”. Even though we hadn’t hung out recently I will remember all the times we had together and the laughs shared. Rushing me to make pudding shots, just so you could eat them all lol. Working on the race-car and trailer (peeling those stickers sucked! Lol). Watching you race or watching races with you and just hanging out in general. I’m sorry you had to go so soon, so until we meet again my friend, race fast and watch over us. Hugs to Big Ken and the rest of your family during this sad, difficult and unfair time.

- Candice & Hunter Breitmayer

January 01, 2020 6:53am
so sorry to hear about krnny paaing away. he was a good person. had a lot of fun with him at berlin racing against him. another friend lost to the ghastly disease of diabetes. i was diagnosed with t-1 in 1955 and every day is a struggle with it. never get a day off from it. rip, kenny.. you now have no more struggles.

- sam

December 31, 2019 4:25am
So sorry for your loss. Ken was my friend during high school but we lost touch after we graduated. This is so sad to see a classmate pass away at such a young age. May he RIP and you have his memories forever.

- Heather

December 30, 2019 3:22pm
That little Kenny sure was a prankster ! While babysitting him we always watched the dukes of hazards then had to take him to his favorite place Berlin raceway to watch his dad race, one time he got away from me so fast the next thing i saw was little Kenny started running around the race track to see his dad, and me(the babysitter) trying to catch him while he's looking back laughing ! L0ve ya Smitty (little Kenny)

- Kathy

December 30, 2019 2:16pm
We are so sorry for your loss🙏🙏🙏 prayers to to the both of you

- Mary Drew




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