September 6, 1937 – February 17, 2017

John W. Smarslik, 79, of Lake Geneva, WI, died on Friday, Feb 17, 2017 at his residence. John (Bill) was born Sep 6, 1937, in Duluth, MN, the son of John F. and Mildred (McCarthy) Smarslik. He was united in marriage to Mary Kay Gantenbein on Aug 11, 1962, in West Allis, WI.

He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church of Lake Geneva.

He graduated from West Allis Central High School, received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from UW Whitewater, and Master Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA.

Bill served in the U.S. Army, taught Chemistry, Physics, and Photography at Badger High School for 27 years and then left the classroom to be the Technology Director for the Lake Geneva School District for 13 years. He brought computers, networks, voice recognition, and video technology to the entire school system, and retired in 2002. He was a coordinator for the Compassionate Friends of Walworth County Chapter for 10 years, and he loved fishing, baking and quilting.

Surviving are his wife, Mary of Lake Geneva; his daughters: Jan (Rich) Ruffalo of East Troy, WI, Jodi (Rich) Daehn of Elkhorn, WI, and Jennene Smarslik of Elkhorn, WI; his grandchildren: Nicholas, Rebecca, and Jacob Ruffalo and Kaitlynn, Allyssa, Kyle, Tyler, Ryan, and Madisyn Daehn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Joanne Smigla; brother-in-law, Lee Gantenbein; and son, Jay William Smarslik.

Services with military honors will be held at 11:30 AM Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Lake Geneva, with Pastor Martha Butzier officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of services at the CHURCH. A luncheon in the church hall will follow the services.

Memorial donations may be made to AGAPE HOUSE, 215 S. Main Street, Walworth WI 53184, http://agapehouseheals.org or SIDE BY SIDE, 715 Wisconsin Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, http://sidebysidelakegeneva.org

STEINKE-LAZARCZYK FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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