David B. Smith, Jr.

David B. Smith, Jr., Merrill, died Wednesday, May 28. He was 87 years old.

He was born in Wausau on March 31, 1938, the oldest child of David B. Smith, Sr. and Katharine Stone Smith. Dave grew up in Merrill where he was an outstanding athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball and running track. He was a high school football All-American and a proud member of the Merrill football Silver M Club — earning his Golden M in 2005. Dave attended Beloit College and, after serving in the Army National Guard, transferred to the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he earned a degree in economics. He was also a member of Chi Psi fraternity.

He married Kathalyn Ann Way, a Merrill High School classmate who told once her mother she “wouldn’t date Dave Smith if he were the last man on earth.” They were married 63 years and raised two children. 

Dave spent his career in the paper industry, working summers at Wausau Paper Mills in Brokaw. He spent his entire professional career with Weyerhaeuser which took him and his family to the west coast. He progressed from working in personnel in paper mills in Aberdeen and Everett, Wash, eventually joining the corporate office in Tacoma. There he oversaw the corporate purchasing department and retired at an early age as vice president of labor relations. Dave served on the board of directors at Wausau Paper Mills, Church Mutual, and the local BMO Harris bank in Merrill.

Following retirement, he attended every one of his children’s sporting events. He extended that practice to his grandchildren, traveling across the country to watch countless high school and college basketball and volleyball games as well as curling matches and accumulating an impressive collection of travel coffee mugs, shirts, jackets, and sweatshirts of their college alma maters. He loved his family fiercely.

Dave and Kay spent summers at the family cottage on Plum Lake, eventually buying Dave’s family home in Merrill and relocating to Wisconsin full-time.

He is survived by his wife, Kay, his daughter Stephanie L. Smith, Wausau, his son David B. (Gail) Smith III, Lakewood, Wash.; grandchildren, David B. (Kate Blackwell) Smith IV, Scottsdale, Ariz., Victoria (Matthew) Klinewski, Portland, Ore., Anna Schellpfeffer, Woodbury, Minn., Joshua Schellpfeffer, Bloomington, Minn., Jacob (Olivia McGovern) Schellpfeffer, Somerville, Mass., and great-granddaughter Beatrice Klinewski. He’s further survived by his sisters Margaret (Michael) Mumma, Jefferson, Iowa, and Sarah (Bret) Miller, Naples, Fla. and Sayner, nieces, nephews and countless friends — especially those at the Eagles Club, Kwik Trip and the Merrill Post Office. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Thomas Smith.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank Drs. Schwartz and Peter and the staff at Marshfield Clinic Weston Regional Center for their care and compassion. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be directed to the charity of your choice.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.