Sun Prairie – Donald Walter Smith passed away peacefully on December 23, 2020 at the Villas at Middleton Nursing Home, in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Don was born and raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the son of Louis and Lillian Smith. He came from a bigger family of 7 kids. He attended Marquette High School. As a young man, Don worked in his father’s White Truck garage where he became a big fan, and built an expertise with all things mechanical and automotive.
Early on in his career he drove sand and gravel semis for Weber Trucking, and spent several seasons in the pit crew for Marshall Teague racing on the USAC circuit.
He later parlayed his love of heavy equipment into becoming a very skilled operator of large equipment such as backhoes, cranes, and draglines. Utilizing these skills gave him his start as a demonstrator of Hy-Hoe Backhoes. However, being very much a people person, Don transitioned to heavy equipment sales with American State Equipment Co. He became an extremely successful salesperson, as he could not only tell a customer about a piece of equipment, he could get up in the cab and demonstrate how it operated. An old crony of Don’s once quipped, Don was so good at sales, he could sell ice cubes to an Eskimo.
Don married the love of his life, Carol Ann Clark in 1956, the couple had gotten to know each other from their days (mostly nights) at Hofstedter’s Bowling Alley. Many good stories from those days!!
Don’s job eventually landed them in Sun Prairie, WI, where he and Carol raised a family of 5 children on Birkinbine Park.
Don was also a successful entrepreneur, he designed and built Stop-n-Sock entertainment complex in Madison, which had a miniature golf course, golf driving range, and baseball batting cages. On many early evenings, Andy North would show up to hit balls, and many of the local High School baseball teams honed their batting skills in those cages.
Don and Carol have a wonderful legacy in their 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Lillian Smith, his brothers Dick, Bob, and Paul, and his sister Patricia Wolf. He is survived by his sisters Lois Goetz, and Carol Anderson,: his children Darrell (Christine) Smith, Dennis (Katie) Smith, Cheryl (Jerry) Riege, Michele (Matt) Weber, Craig (Julie) Smith: grandchildren Bryan, Trevor, Michael, Julie, Ryan, Madeline, Alexandra, Sam, Jacqueline, and Gabriel Smith, and Sara and Dillon Weber; and great grandchildren Heath, Hayden, Oakley, Huxson, and Embree Smith, and Reiman Erskin.
Due to Covid-19, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date yet to be determined. You may share condolences and memories at www.newcomerfh.com.
Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
www.newcomerfh.com
Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400