Michael Smyth

Michael (Mike) A. Smyth, 75, a resident of Sheboygan, WI passed away Monday at the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice House in Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Mike graduated from Sheboygan South High School with the class of 1967 and was the ‘host’ brother of Klemens Roloff, the AFS student at South High for the 1966-1967 school year. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) with the class of 1971.

As a sophomore at Notre Dame, Mike studied at the University of Innsbruck, Austria for a year. The class schedule allowed for many adventures through Western and Eastern Europe, including what was then the USSR. Deep and lasting friendships were forged his year abroad and through the rest of his college years. These friendships continued to the very end of his life. He loved and cherished those friends and was able to personally connect with several of them in recent months.

A creative, witty, funny, adventurous, and intelligent man, Mike had a deep and unwavering love for all his family, and especially his young nieces and nephews. As their devoted uncle, he was their talking reference book, homework helper, field trip provider, Scrabble teacher and Storytime reader! Mike always looked forward to their visits and held a keen interest in their lives as they aged and began their own families. He never tired of hearing their latest adventures.

Mike tried his hand at several professions during his life. He spent time as salesman, real estate broker, stockbroker, newspaper writer and most recently, as the most charismatic carpenter you’d ever meet. A bibliophile, Mike read voraciously and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of every book he consumed, especially history-related books. From the Peloponnesian War to the Viking Sagas; the finer points of what led to the Great War and the detailed history of the changing globe from the Middle Ages on, Mike always knew the backstory. Born with the gift of gab, he loved to share stories with friends and family. While a current resident of Sheboygan, Mike also lived for several years in San Francisco and London, England.

Mike was born November 28, 1949, in Chicago. He was the first of six children born to Florence Fagan Smyth and James Patrick Smyth, Senior. He is survived by his five siblings, Loretta Smyth (John Chab) of Stephenson, VA; James P. Smyth, II (Jeanne) of Milwaukee; Jeffrey Smyth (Mary) of Sheboygan; Jerry Smyth (Pam) of De Pere, WI and Mary Smyth of Sun City Center, FL. Mike had 10 nieces and nephews and several grand-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents.

The Smyth Family would like to mention a special thanks to the staff of the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice House for their kind and gentle care of our brother Mike.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls (920-467-3431) is honored to assist the family.