Obituary for Lawrence J. "Schmitty" Smith

Larry was born in 1938 to Raymond T. and Dorothy M. (Jerue) Smith. He attended St. James School. As a young man he worked for several businesses, including the original Arentz Shoes store, a riding stable formerly located in Myrick Park, night watchman for Doerflingers Department Store, delivery for Dolly Madison Dairy and factory worker at Allis Chalmers. He also worked with the Auxiliary Police and in Animal Control for the City of La Crosse, before working over 31 years at the City Street Department of La Crosse, retiring in January of 1997.

He married Ada Marella “Maree” (Bunton) Smith on April 29, 1978 and this fall would have marked 50 years together for them as a couple. They bought their first home two years later, remaining in La Crosse until becoming residents of Onalaska, where their son was born.

Larry was a well-known softball player in the La Crosse area, and an avid outdoorsman, enjoying deer hunting with family and close friends, as well as fishing. He especially enjoyed thirty-plus summers in the St. Germain and Eagle River areas of Northern Wisconsin, where he netted the winning muskie one year at the Elbert’s Resort fall muskie tournament. Larry played golf and was a regular player on many bowling leagues, bowling many 600 series and eventually a 700 series. Larry also regularly enjoyed races at the local racetrack at the La Crosse Interstate Fairgrounds.

As a devoted member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse, he regularly assisted with ushering duties, the church’s lawn care, various cook-outs and meal preparation, as well as a confirmation guide and a Meals On Wheels volunteer along with Maree.

Larry is survived by his wife, and their son, Colin Lawrence (Shelby) Smith; his daughter from a prior marriage, Kari L. Smith; a sister, Theresa M. Hanifl; two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Emily Jean (Dennis) Kerl and Robert Mark (Sue) Bunton; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Robert Matthew (Mary) Bunton; his son from a prior marriage, Scott D.Smith; two sisters, Shirley Goyette and Virginia Borck; two brothers-in-law, Gordon Goyette and Donald Borck and a great nephew.

The memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. on March 28, 2026 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4141 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Pastor Harald Bringsjord presiding, with visitation for 1½ hours prior to the service. After the memorial service, a light luncheon will be served in the Mattes Center.

Funeral urn ennichment for the family will be immediately after the service at the Good Shepherd Columbarium and prayer garden prior to a luncheon being held in the Mattes Center.

Arrangements are being handled by Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, Larry’s family requests that donations be made to Good Shepherd church, WAFER of La Crosse, Salvation Army of La Crosse, and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Aveanna Home Health, Benedictine Health and the Palliative Care and Hospice Care teams at Emplify Health by Gundersen, for their excellent care of Larry in recent months. It meant more than we are able to express.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes, La Crosse Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences can be left on this website.