Richard Smits

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Richard Smits, age 90, of Jenison, passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Richard was a retired Navy veteran and had a career with the Army Corps of Engineers in California. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sharon Van Leeuwen in 2014; sisters, Margaret (George) French, Mary (Hugh) Chandler; Barbara (Abe) Schram, and Rachel Tabbert; and brother, James Kinsey. Richard will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 69 years, Dorothea; children, Mary Beth and Dr. Brian Trimble, David and Angela Smits; grandchildren, George and Delaney Smits, Geoffrey and Kristen Van Leeuwen, Jim and Hillary Van Leeuwen, Betsy Van Leeuwen, Sandy and Kelly Van Brouwer, Sean and Erin Trimble, Aaron and Laura Trimble; 12 great-grandchildren, Denali Trimble, Rogue Trimble, Will Trimble, Nicholas Trimble, Benjamin Trimble, Kyah Van Brouwer, Nora Van Brouwer, Grant Van Leeuwen, Elena Van Leeuwen, Natalie Van Leeuwen, Abigail Van Leeuwen, and Liana Van Leeuwen; and sister-in-law, Betty Kinsey. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Relatives and friends may meet the family starting at 10:30 am prior to the service. Burial will take place at Georgetown Township Cemetery.