John Earl Smith, Jr. passed away peacefully on Monday, June 26, in Green Valley, AZ.  He was born on October 25, 1931 in Detroit, MI.  John held dual citizenship; he was raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada for the majority of his youth and young adulthood.

John graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit and worked as an industrial engineer for much of his early professional life.  His career took him, his wife Barb (of 65 years), and his growing family (eventually four sons) to Cedar Rapids, IA, Hoffman Estates, IL, and Whitewater, WI, where he and Barb owned and operated The Red Lantern restaurant on Main Street in Whitewater from the mid 70’s to late 80’s.  He was also an adjunct faculty member at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Business College. 

After selling their business, John and Barb worked as managers at La Quinta Hotels around the Southwest, eventually settling in Green Valley, AZ, happily retired for the past 25+ years.

John was preceded in death by his wife (Barbara Jean, nee Clark).  He is survived by sons Tim (& Maribeth) Smith of North Plains, OR; Kevin (& Barb) Smith of Escondido, CA; Dan (& Sandy) Smith of Mequon, WI; and Mike Smith of Portland, OR, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Both John’s and Barb’s ashes will be scattered in the Santa Rita Mountains which surround Green Valley by their family at a later date.