Henry “Hank” Smoker, Jr., age 74, died Monday, March 22 at his home at Gun Lake.
He was born June 16, 1946, in Coldwater and graduated from St. Charles Catholic school in 1964. He served in the US Army 1966-68. He worked in the vending service field for 31 years at Servomation, Service America, retiring from Canteen in 2000.
He was a member of DW Cassard American Legion Post 208 for almost 40 years; life member of Wayland VFW Auxiliary 7581; life member of Amvets Post 23; Wyoming Moose Lodge 763 and Allegan FOE 2315. Hank was very active supporting and volunteering for veterans.
He enjoyed spending time doing various activities with the grandkids, riding mopeds around the lake with his best friend Bob and fishing from the dock. With time on his hands, he learned how the fix computers and loved to be helpful fixing many “oops” for friends.
He also volunteered 14 years for Wyoming Public Schools, most recently at Gladiola Elementary school where he was known as “Grampa Hank.” He was the fixer-of-cars, he was the driver-of-boats, he was the teller-of-bad-jokes.
He wasn’t a grandfather by blood, he was a grandfather by choice. He took on the title happily, comfortable hosting kids at his house for a long weekend on the lake, swimming, boating, and doing chores around the yard. He also was one to spoil his grandkids.
Hank also was a mentor for any kind of repair. Fixing things in the house, car repairs, lawnmowers, snowblowers… he had patience to spare when it came to helping you figure out what was wrong and how to fix it.
Hank leaves behind brothers Chuck (Diana) Smoker of Two Rivers, WI and Jerry (Joan) Smoker of Winter Springs, FL; life-long partner Bobbie Bulthuis; her son and family, Chad and Brandie Bulthuis; grandchildren, Christian Thorpe, Jacob Bulthuis & fiance Nikki , Matthew Bulthuis and Caitlyn Bulthuis; great-grandchildren Emmett and Marlowe.
A celebration of life will be held later this spring at American Legion Post 208 in Kentwood, where friends can gather together to share memories of. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gladiola Elementary School 3500 Gladiola Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519 with a note of “In memory of Hank Smoker” in the memo line or using this link to donate online: https://bit.ly/3tY3Gom
