3
trees
planted in memory of Kenneth J. Smith
Obituary for Kenneth J. Smith
Kenneth J. Smith, age 77, of Bass Lake, Indiana, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Ken was born and raised in South Holland, Illinois, graduating from Thornridge High School in 1963. He had worked for the phone company for 32 years, retiring in 1998. In 1963 he married Sandra L. Short, she survives. Also surviving are his children, Steve (Kandi), Scott (Susie) and Amy (Kevin), granddaughters, Maggie & Mara and Jala, and two sisters, Ruth Spelde and Marietta Koster (Larry).
Ken was a builder and a doer. Manual labor was in his blood. There wasn’t anything he could not build or fix. As a young man, his hobbies included building inboard fiberglass boats from scratch and repairing motorcycles of all types. Later, he restored an old Correct Craft, his favorite boat brand. In 1977, he built his first house from the ground up with the assistance of his father, Jacob H. Smith. In 1955 his parents bought a small cottage on Bass Lake and that began Ken’s lifelong love affair with beautiful Bass Lake. In 1998 Ken designed and built his home on Bass Lake, this time with the help of his good friend, Denny Kortum. Ken’s passion for Bass Lake ran deep, his love of water skiing, boating and porch sitting was infectious. He left the lake only occasionally, and that was to fulfill his dream of motorcycling across the USA! Over his life, he and Sandy managed to tour the lower 48, two-up on his Honda. They had many rides and adventures, but he was always happiest to return to his beloved Bass Lake.
The family is planning a celebration of life on his pontoon while cruising Bass Lake.
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Ken was a builder and a doer. Manual labor was in his blood. There wasn’t anything he could not build or fix. As a young man, his hobbies included building inboard fiberglass boats from scratch and repairing motorcycles of all types. Later, he restored an old Correct Craft, his favorite boat brand. In 1977, he built his first house from the ground up with the assistance of his father, Jacob H. Smith. In 1955 his parents bought a small cottage on Bass Lake and that began Ken’s lifelong love affair with beautiful Bass Lake. In 1998 Ken designed and built his home on Bass Lake, this time with the help of his good friend, Denny Kortum. Ken’s passion for Bass Lake ran deep, his love of water skiing, boating and porch sitting was infectious. He left the lake only occasionally, and that was to fulfill his dream of motorcycling across the USA! Over his life, he and Sandy managed to tour the lower 48, two-up on his Honda. They had many rides and adventures, but he was always happiest to return to his beloved Bass Lake.
The family is planning a celebration of life on his pontoon while cruising Bass Lake.
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His family will have a celebration of life while cruising Bass Lake on his pontoon boat at a later date.
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