Brian J Simet

Brian J. Simet, age 84 of Bentonville AR, passed away on January 15th, 2024 after a long and successful treatment for Alzheimer’s a diagnosis he accepted with dignity and his indomitable sense of humor.

Born December 30th, 1939 in Attica, New York, to Mary (Carey) and Joseph Simet, he had humble beginnings as the grandson of immigrant German and Irish families, and was raised among a large pack of rebel Aunts and Uncles who took him on many adventures. He credited the shaping of his personality to his older sister, Carol, whom he often declared as superior in intelligence and strength and whipped him into shape at an early age. He had a fascination with fire and his childhood accolades included a near death experience after he set his grandmother’s house on fire before the age of ten, and also succeeded in burning his eyebrows off while trying to make rocket fuel out of home-made gun powder. He survived his childhood and graduated from Attica High school in 1958.

Brian attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY where he was active in the men’s glee club and lettered in tennis. Lacking in funds but not willpower, he put himself through college by working as a Resident Assistant for St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. Having an aptitude for a sign language but not German, he gave up a questionable future in chemistry and graduated with a degree in Marketing and went on to accept a teaching fellowship at the University Of Detroit College Of Business, earning an MBA. While at Canisius he met the love of his life, Ann (Raymond) who was enrolled in nursing school, and they married in 1964.

The newly married couple moved to Detroit, MI, where he began a long and successful career in the automotive industry. He first worked for Chrysler, then moved on to a Senior Financial Analyst position within the Ford Tractor division in Birmingham, MI, and spent a large amount of time at Ford Motor headquarters in Dearborn, MI (the Glass House.) He then accepted a managerial position with American Motors Corp. where he stayed for 12 years, making his way up to Market Division Controller.

Throughout his life Brian had an insatiable sense of adventure. In 1979, with a recession looming and four kids in tow, he and Ann left their careers and purchased a True Value Hardware store in Caseville, MI, a resort town in Michigan’s thumb on the shores of Lake Huron. Open year-round, every day, with extended summer hours, the business became a popular hangout for locals and a small police force, in part due to the free coffee, and a broadcast scanner at the service desk. Basically, Brian knew which of his kids got into trouble and when. Additionally, he served the town council, successfully orchestrating a municipal water system and the building of the water tower seen today for miles. In 1996 after 18 years in business, they sold the store and moved to Arkansas (they had enough of Michigan winters) and traveled extensively.

Brian was highly interested in civics and government affairs, and remained privately aggrieved throughout his life over the Attica Prison Riot of 1971 and its impact on his family and the community. He demonstrated great compassion for others and was known to tip service workers generously. He was an avid reader, Life Master duplicate bridge player, and loved visiting his family. He is survived by his sister Carol Beitz, his wife Ann, children: Dan (Lisa) Simet, David (Laura) Simet, Michelle (Tom) Sall, and Aileen (Steve) Leipprandt, grandchildren: Kelsey (Robbie Schwartz), Michael and their mother Lynn Simet, Summer, Derrick, and Aliyah Simet, Anna (Dustin) Williams, and Noah (Anna Rae) Sall. Isaac and Ava Leipprandt, nieces Ellen Woods and Jennifer (Zack) Jakubowski, nephew Timothy Beitz.