Jan Smits

Jan Smits of Lakeview, Arkansas, passed away June 11, 2024, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 82. He was born March 16, 1942, in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Joe and Lillian Payton Smits. Jan was a proud member of the United States Marine Corp serving during the Viet Nam War, once a Marine always a Marine! He married Paula Sender on July 27, 1961, in Boone County, Il. Jan worked as a Senior Staff Engineer for General Electric until he retired. He lived in Lakeview, AR, since moving from Genoa, IL , in 2003. He was a member of the Hoevel-Barnett Post #1341 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jan loved to fish and print out signs on his computer. He was an avid toy train collector. 

Jan is survived by his wife, Paula Smits of Lakeview, AR; daughter, Teresa (Trent) Lund of Rockford, IL; son, Bill (Lisa) Smits of Sycamore, IL; grandsons, Jay (Mallory) Pettigrew, Joe Pettigrew of Rockford, IL, Patrick Johnson of Tampa, FL and Ryan Smits of Sycamore, Il; granddaughter, Mindy (fiance, Conner Brickley) Smits of Broadhead, Wi; three great grandsons, Jayson Pettigrew, Callan Pettigrew and Jax Pettigrew; many nieces and nephews, friends and co-workers, esp. Mike Cass

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters. 

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. 

Memorials may be made to Hoevel-Barnett Post #1341 VFW, Bull Shoals, AR 72619 . 

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.