Steven G. "Red" Smith

He was born December 17, 1944 in Peoria to Kenneth and Dorothy (McGilvary) Smith. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Kupferschmid, on June 13, 1965, in Washington, IL. She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Debra Lynn Smith of Peoria and Lisa Ann Smith-Macri of Round Lake, IL; one granddaughter, Savanna Lynn Macri of Round Lake, IL; one brother, Gerald (Paula) Smith of Washington, IL; one sister, Mary (Steve) Schierer of Metamora; and his mother-in-law, who was more like a mother to Red, Gertrude Kupferschmid of Peoria.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Red worked for Caterpillar Inc. from 1965 until 2003, when he retired. While at Cat he was also a volunteer firefighter. He then started working for Manufacturing Maintenance Solutions (MMS) Inc. in Pekin until the present. He owned and operated his own business, called Central Illinois Insulation and Repair, for several years during the 1980's while also working at Cat.

Red never met a stranger. He loved spending time with his family and interacting with people. He touched the lives of everyone he met. He was a 40 year member of Peoria Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he held many positions, from head deacon to school board chairman. Red also liked to restore antique farm tractors and had an impressive toy tractor collection.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30pm Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday at the chapel. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens.

Memorials may be made to his church, PAWS, or Illinois Cancer Care 8940 N Woodsage Road, Peoria, Illinois 61615.

Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.davison-fulton.com.