Gregory D. Smith, 68, passed away peacefully, May 12, 2016, at his home on Mud Lake Rd, with his wife, Gail, at his side.

Greg was born January 9, 1948 in Detroit, the 3rd child of Douglas and Chesterine “Jessie” (Murzin) Smith. He attended Detroit public schools, graduating from Cody High School in 1966. After graduation, he was an apprentice diesel truck mechanic at Ogden & Moffet Trucking Company, Detroit, until he was drafted into the Army later in 1966. Greg served in Vietnam, where he sustained serious injuries, earning a Purple Heart and leading to a life-long battle to overcome disability and pain. He attended Kirtland Community College, Roscommon, MI, earning an associate degree in Natural Resources Technology in 1972. He later attended Pine Technical College, Pine City, MN, and earned an associate degree in Gunsmithing Technology in 1995.

In the summer of 1967 (“Summer of Love”), Greg met Gail Brocklebank, his best friend and love of his life after corresponding by “snail-mail” for seven months (“love at first write”). They were married in 1971 in Detroit, honeymooned in the U.P., and made their first home in Kalkaska. MI. There, Greg worked as a mechanic and at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center in building and ambulance maintenance.

In 1975, the couple moved to Ontonagon, living in a tent while building their house, and soon established their little hobby farm. There, Greg worked as county forester. He was also a volunteer for search and rescue and served on the board of the County Soil Conservation District.

In 1983, Greg and Gail moved to Mud Lake, near Lake Linden. Greg was employed as a seasonal ranger at Fort Wilkins State Park and in maintenance at Michigan Technological University. Following graduation from Pine Technical College in 1995, Greg opened his gunsmith shop, Nor'wester Gunsmithing, at his home, where he did both general repairs and (his passion) built custom muzzle loading firearms.

Greg was a devoted husband and father and was an avid outdoorsman and skilled woodsman. He loved camping, fishing, and target shooting with his family every summer, and hunting in the fall—primarily game birds and small game. He loved living close to and watching wildlife and nature. A later hobby enjoyed by the family was 18th century fur trade era re-enacting, which Greg combined with his trade as a gunsmith, showing and selling his custom-built muzzle loaders. His gunmaking skills were featured in the December 2000 issue of Michigan Out-of-Doors magazine.

Greg was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Beverly; and brothers Campbell (“Chuck”) and Dennis.

Greg is survived by his wife, Gail of Mud Lake; daughter, Tawny Mikkola, of Laurium; a brother, Richard (Kimberly), of White Lake, MI; a sister, Camelia, of Ferndale, MI; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held at Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home of Calumet on Monday, May 23, 2016, at 10:00 a.m, followed by a memorial at 11:00 a.m with Pastor Bob White to officiate. A lunch will follow the memorial service

Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home of Calumet is assisting with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.

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