Bernie C. Smith

Charismatic and social, Bernie C. Smith loved engaging with people and could share meaningful conversations with anyone. Resourceful and hard-working, Bernie was proud of the family he shared with his wife, Doris. Whether providing for his family, investing time in his work, pursuing his favorite sports, rolling a pair of dice, traveling, or sharing a favorite meal, Bernie welcomed each day as a gift. A cherished father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, Bernie will long be remembered by those he loved.

Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, the power of hope undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in the hearts and home of William and Gertrude Smith as they welcomed their son Bernie on January 3, 1932, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Growing up on Straight Avenue SW, Bernie was the fourth of the five Smith children. His father worked for Consumers Energy, and his mother devoted herself to being a homemaker. Along with his siblings, Yvonne, William, Gordon, and Henry, Bernie enjoyed the family holidays their family hosted. While in grade school at Straight Elementary, Bernie took up selling the Grand Rapids Herald on Division Avenue in the evening to make some nickels and dimes. It was there that he first witnessed the older kids playing street corner dice and recognized he could make more money on those games than selling papers. Thus, his love of gaming began. In 1947, he and his friends discovered that they could obtain a 3-month YMCA membership by joining their boxing team. His first match at age 16 was against a 23-year-old from the National Guard. He lost. But Bernie went on to win the 175lb division in 1950 as Golden Gloves Champion. As a student at Union High School, Bernie played basketball, was a member of the1948 state champion football team, and served as captain of the track team.

Bernie also had the good fortune of meeting and dating Doris Cianti while in high school. On May 3, 1952, the happy couple married at St. James Catholic Church and celebrated their nuptials with a "Northern Honeymoon." Upon returning from their time in the Upper Peninsula, the newlyweds settled into their marriage, living upstairs at the Cianti home on Butterworth.

As Bernie was enlisted in the Coast Guard when he and Doris married, Doris went out west to be with him while he was stationed in Portland, Oregon, and San Diego, California. Upon his deployment during the Korean War, Doris moved back to Grand Rapids. During his service from 1952 to 1955, Bernie also participated in several military boxing tournaments and performed very well.

Once Bernie was discharged and safely returned home, he and Doris purchased the home where Doris grew up, as her parents had built a new one. The Butterworth residence became the home where they would raise their family, which came to include four children. Dave, Dan, Rick, and Judy were the centers of Bernie's and Doris' worlds, and they worked together to create a loving and supportive home. The family attended St. James Catholic Church, and while he was a strict parent, he long remembered how much the family enjoyed their trip to the 1964 World's Fair and New York City.

While Doris dedicated herself to lovingly tending the home and children, Bernie worked as an electrician. He and Doris then started their own company, Great Lakes Electric, where Bernie handled the labor, and Doris kept the books. In the late 70's, he began working at the World Trade Center on floors 101-105 for Forest Electric. He also owned the "Steak and Stein" and later "Bourbone St." restaurants. Bernie was active in the American Legion Boat and Canoe Club and served as Commander in 1980. He devoted significant time and effort to the Golden Gloves Tournaments, pairing boxers and wrapping their hands.

In his free time, Bernie enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing craps. He built a cottage on Lost Lake in Barryton, Michigan, where the family spent most of their weekends. Bernie enjoyed the game of craps so much that in 2015, he wrote the book "Winning Money at Casino Craps." Memorable trips were taken to Las Vegas, the Upper Peninsula, Memphis, New York City, and Michigan casinos. Before retirement, Bernie and Doris purchased a farm in Luther, Michigan, where they spent a lot of time. Their son, Dan, lived on the farm, and once retired, Bernie spent extended time there tending to the livestock, while Doris enjoyed cross-country skiing there in the winter. Bernie's favorite foods were his mother's, wife's, and daughter's cooking, and he liked making pies with grandkids on Christmas Eve.

In early 2023, Bernie moved to the Michigan Veterans Home in Grand Rapids, and Doris died in August of that year.

As we celebrate Bernie's life, may we find much comfort in our many fond memories. May we also find comfort in carrying the best of his legacy forward by choosing faith over fear, confidently facing life's challenges, enjoying time outdoors or a game of chance, gathering with loved ones for the holidays, engaging in good conversation, and traveling with our beloved.

Bernie Cornelius Smith passed away on October 5, 2025. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel Smith; wife, Doris Smith; and siblings, Yvonne Smith, William Smith, Gordon (Caroline) Smith, and Henry (Pat) Smith. Bernie is survived by his children, Dave Smith, Rick (Kathy) Smith, and Judy Smith; grandchildren, Brett (Dana) Parent, Morgan (Ben) Sneller, Nolan Smith, Derek Smith, Deanna (Pat) King, and Nina Smith; great-grandchildren, Lotte, Thijs, and Cruz. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Eleanor Smith; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Bill and Elva Hirsch and Ann Wierzbicki.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11 AM at Holy Spirit Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends may visit with the family Thursday from 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, and beginning at 10 AM Friday at church. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. To read Bernie's Life Story, leave a memory or condolence, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.