Marshall Timothy Smith, 68, of Pleasant Prairie, passed away on August 29, 2023, surrounded by his wife and children. Marshall, also known as “Tim”, was born on April 24, 1955, in Saint Louis, MO. He grew up in Deerfield, IL as the only child of Marshall Smith and Doris Friedemann. In his early twenties, at the University of Iowa, Marshall developed a passion for two things that would follow him throughout his life: wine and poetry. He was a proud student of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop MFA program. Nothing was more important to Marshall than his wife and children. In 1986, he serendipitously met the love of his life, Kathy, at an airport while waiting for a flight. They raised their two children in Atlanta, GA followed by Deerfield, IL. Whether it was skiing in Whistler, fishing in Ontario, or eating in Italy, Marshall shared his love of travel and adventure with his family. He was the chef of the house with celebrated favorites such as homemade pesto pasta, boeuf bourguignon, and étouffée. Marshall loved baseball. He held dear many memories of playing baseball on summer nights as a child and cherished the opportunity to coach his son’s little league games. He was forever a St. Louis Cardinals fan and relished few things more than a good pitcher’s duel. For most of his working life, Marshall was in medical sales, specifically vitreoretinal surgery. It was through this work that he developed life-long friendships. With many of these friends there was nothing he enjoyed more than tasting and discussing the wines of the world. Marshall’s knowledge of wine was vast and his children would often call him upon entering a wine store to seek his expertise. Marshall was both a lover of poetry and a published poet. One always knew where he had last been sitting by the books he left there. In 2016, as his working life subsided, he joined the Kenosha Writers Guild and was honored to be asked to join the Board. Marshall’s return to poetry was inspiring. He found great joy in teaching several poetry workshops and bonding with his students. Marshall is survived by his wife of 35 years, Kathy Smith; two children, Tess and Tim; his cousin, Julie Krause; two brothers-in-law, Steve Hobson (Sharon) and Mike Hobson (Teri); nieces Lisa (Kevin), Kimberly (Hugh), nephews Steve (Alanda) and Malcolm (Diana); dogs, Zoe and Leo. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marshall and Doris Smith; his parents-in-law, Stephen and Lee Hobson; and beloved dogs, Clury, Hannah, Lucy, Stormy, Scout, and Jett. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 7 at 3:00 pm, at Creative Space 624 57th St., Kenosha. Visiting with the family prior to the event is welcome, beginning at 2:30 pm. Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit & Sign Marshall'sOnline Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com
Condolences
robert m katzman
October 7, 2023
Marshall interviewed me, perhaps the best one I ever had. I have the video of us and am honored to have been a friend of his.He will remain vivid to me, a man of character, a man of class. To me, you have it or you don't. He did. Love. Bob Katzman
Anna Koger
September 26, 2023
I’m Anna Koger, a 1st cousin of his that you’ve never met, the only daughter of his mother’s youngest sister, Jo Friedemann. Tim, as we called him, was my favorite male cousin, though I have neither seen nor communicated with him since the 1970’s. I just now learned of his passing, and I am crying as I type this. You have my deepest condolences.My favorite memory of Tim:When I was, I believe, 10 years old (so Tim would have been 14 years old), he and his mother came to visit and stay with us at our home in Oklahoma. His mother and I slept in my bedroom, her on my bed and me on a day bed. Tim slept on a sofa in the formal living room. The first morning after Tim and his mother arrived, my two younger brothers, Tim, and everyone else in the household was awake except for me. I guess that wasn’t acceptable to Tim, because I awoke to find him tickling the bottoms of my feet with a big pink ostrich feather from my bedroom. I just smiled really big and he just smiled really big and then he scampered off. That was probably the most enjoyable awakening I’ve ever had; he made me feel special.I think Tim was a very special person.
Linda Baker
September 5, 2023
Kathy, Tess and Tim, our sincere condolences to you and the rest of the family. Mitch and Linda Baker