Rodney Smith

Rodney Smith passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee at the age of 90 years.

Rodney was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 1931, to the late Daniel K. and Bertha Martha (nee Noe) Smith.

Rodney attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology.

He served in the United States Army as a medic from 1954 through 1956. He was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Rodney worked for the Pabst Brewing Co. for 17 years where he was a research biologist. He was granted several patents for his work. After the company moved, Rodney worked briefly for the state Department of Agriculture and the Milwaukee Sewage Commission.

Rodney finished his career at UW-Milwaukee, where he worked for 25 years. He retired in 1996.

Rodney briefly worked for the Solar Corps where he met and married his wife, Carol Runde. The couple married on March 3, 1958, in Illinois.

They lived in Milwaukee and had four children, Mark, Grant, Leslie and Wendy. The family moved to Port Washington, Wis., in 1972.

Rodney loved nature. He spent countless hours hiking, bird watching, gardening and occasionally camping. He was a long time member of the Audubon Society.

Rodney was an exceptional artist. He painted mainly using oil and nature as his subject. He sold many works of art locally and enjoyed painting ornaments and other items.

He was also a fan of the UW Badgers football team.

Rodney is survived by his two sons, Mark and Grant (Dawn) Smith, and daughter Leslie (Steve) Hughes. He was a loving and proud grandfather to seven grandchildren,  Danielle, Eric, Ben, Ariel, Austin, Taylor and Courtney, and one great-grandchild, Ace. He is further survived by other relatives and friends.

Rodney was proceeded in death by his parents, wife Carol and daughter Wendy.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday March 24, 2022, at 5 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, 979 N. Green Bay Rd. in Grafton with a visitation from 3 to 4:45 p.m.

Interment will be at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. For online condolences please visit www.muellerfuneralhome.com.