Johanna M. Smith

Johanna Smith, 91, of Beal City, passed away Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on what would be her 70th wedding anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at St. Joseph The Worker Church in Beal City with Father Thomas J. McNamara presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the gathering room of St. Joseph Church on Sunday from 5-9 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues on Monday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph The Worker Church or School. Envelopes are available at the church or the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Johanna was born May 1, 1918, in Beal City, the daughter of John and Regina (Martin) Lawens. She married Walter Smith on Oct. 19, 1939, at St. Philomena Church in Beal City. Before Johannas 10th birthday, both of her parents were deceased. At the age of 16, she was obligated to quit school in order to look after the home. In 1968 she took a position as a cook at St. Joseph The Worker School until her retirement in 1979. She was a life member of St. Joseph Church and homemaker all her life. Johanna is survived by her husband, Walter Smith; four children, Judy (Joe) Travis of Shepherd, John (Kathy) Smith of Beal City, James Smith of Haslett, and Janice (John) Gleason of Houghton Lake; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; great-grandson, Marcus Smith in 1991; son-in-law, Harry Millard in 1988; and half-sister, Harriet Smith in 2008.