Obituary of Kenneth Roy Smith

SMITH, Kenneth "Ken" R. of Saginaw, passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2014, at his home. He was 81 years old. Kenneth Roy Smith was born on September 18, 1932 in Ingersoll Township, Midland County to the late Roy and Emily S. (Anger) Smith. He married the love of his life, Marlene M. Muehlfeld on April 7, 1951 in Saginaw; she survives him. He graduated from Midland High School with the Class of 1951. He was employed by Central Foundry (Malleable Iron Division), retiring as supervisor for the Pattern Shop after 36 years of service. Ken was a man of many hats and served in various positions with the churches he attended, presently Hopevale Church in which he served as elder for three years. In the community he served as the Zoning Administrator of Elk Rapids for seven years and as the President of Spring Lake Condominiums in Saginaw Township for one year. Ken was a great carpenter building two homes in his younger years. After retirement, he received his builders license and went on to building small projects in the community and his home in Elk Rapids on Birch Lake, which he considered his little piece of heaven. Ken was a self-taught musician beginning at the early age of eight years old. As a member of the Saginaw Valley Boys, he was known as "Fiddling Ken Smith" where they held a spot on the radio station WMDN in Midland. He later played with "The Townsman Band" playing old standards but was a country music man through and through. His most recent musical group was "The Dreamland Trio". In his spare time, he loved to fish, hunt, and was an avid golfer. No challenge was too big, as he would tackle anything. He loved his family so much and being with his family was most precious to him. Family gatherings always included music and in his later years, when he became a Christian, he began playing for the Lord. He comforted people by playing music in nursing homes, and sang solos and duets for funerals and weddings. He will forever be missed by his loving family and friends. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Marlene Smith; daughter, Debra (Derek) Black of Almont, MI; daughter-in-law, Judy Smith of Ellsworth, MI; sister, Geraldine R. (Doran) Bethke of Saginaw; and brother, Eugene "Gene" (Cathy) Smith of Hope, MI. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death a son, Greg Smith; two sisters: Nora Huebner and Eleanor Donaldson; and two brothers: Ira and Ronald Smith. FUNERAL: A Funeral Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2014 at Hopevale Church, 4873 N. Center Rd. Pastor Ken MacGillivray and Pastor Dan Davis will officiate. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. VISITATION: Friends are welcome to visit with the family on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Ken will lie in state at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. MEMORIALS: Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Hopevale Church or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home, church, or through www.deislerfuneralhome.com.