Michael D.J. Smetanka

Michael enjoyed spending his days in the sun and was a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Rams, so it makes perfect sense that though he was raised in Indiana, he was born in California. His parents, Nancy and Michael Smetanka Sr. raised him, along with his sisters Heather and Nicole, in a loving home that offered an open-door policy to all their childhood friends, of which there were many.

Michael was known for living life to the extreme. He loved hard and he played hard, but for many years he also lived hard. He was not a man to wallow in regret. He owned his mistakes and did the best that he could in his relentless pursuit to live life to the fullest. Growing up he enjoyed motocross and riding dirt bikes. This passion grew into adulthood, and he was ecstatic over the purchase of his first Harley Davidson. He loved taking rides with his partner and soulmate, Monica Panagiotis, as well as other cherished family and friends.

Michael was a hard worker, often promoted into positions of leadership because of his strong work ethic, willingness to go above and beyond, and ability to learn on sight with very little instruction. He was an amazing artist, a self-taught natural gift which he freely shared with those he loved. He was the life of every party and had a presence about him that lit up every room he ever entered. He was truly one of a kind, and to know him was to love him.

Michael was preceded in death by his mom, Nancy. His legacy will live on through his children: James (Whitney) Zimmerman, Taylor (Travis) Silvers, Cameron Smetanka, Dakota Smetanka, and Kira Hubbard; his grandchildren: Mia, Ezra, and Mia, and his future grandchildren that he is getting to know in Heaven right now. He will be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who loved him including his partner Monica and her family, his father Mike Sr, his sister Nicole, his brother-in-law Bruce and sister Heather, his nieces and nephew: Kaylee, Briana, Felicia, Abbie, Lanie, Sadie, and Abel, and his life-long friends: Tiffany, James, Butch, Kim (Taylor), and Tricia (Cameron and Dakota).

I believe his life is best summarized in his own words. From a video of himself in the car with his kids, “I never quit, I never once quit, never quit. I swung for the fences baby.” And from a letter he once mailed to his sons, “Never let anyone walk over you in life. Never judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Always stand up for yourself and what you believe in. If you have a dream and it makes you happy, GO FOR IT! Failure isn’t falling down, it’s staying down.”

A celebration of life will be held on 4/19/2024 at:

Overtime

2227 Franklin St.

South Bend, IN 46613

In a final tribute to Mike (Spit), please come raise a glass, share a happy memory, and plan ahead to get home safely. Mike loved to have a good time, but what he truly loved the most was being fully present in the moment and making memories with the people he loved. You can best honor his memory by doing the same and by doing it often. Cheers to you… our brother, our father, our friend.