Obituary of Timothy Paul Smith

Timothy Paul Smith, 59, of Rockaway Township, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at Saint Clare’s Hospital. Tim was born in Madison, Illinois and has been a resident of Rockaway Township since February 1992. Tim was raised in Glen Carbon, Illinois and was the youngest of four. He loved baseball from an early age and became a devout St. Louis Cardinals fan after his father, Blandford Smith, surprised him with tickets to an afternoon World Series game, allowing him to skip school and go to his first baseball game with his dad. Tim attended Southern Illinois University where he received his Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, he worked for HBE Construction in St. Louis for a year until moving to New Jersey in 1982. Soon after moving to New Jersey, Tim was introduced to his wife, Susan, and he never looked back. They married on August 11, 1985 and bought their first house in Denville. Seven years later they purchased their home in Rockaway where they raised their three beautiful children, Jenna, Rachel and Bryan. Tim was very involved with Rockaway’s recreational baseball and basketball leagues where he coached his son’s teams every year. He took every chance he could get to be on the field/court coaching. He also enjoyed playing golf in his spare time even though according to him he, “wasn’t any good.” Golf was a good way for Tim to unwind and enjoy the fresh air. The only problem Tim had with golf was the volume of his voice. Tim may have been the loudest speaker in all of Rockaway. He used his “outside voice” at the construction sites every day and didn’t seem to turn it off once he got home, but everyone loved him for it. Although he was loud, he was always cheerful, and his powerful yet chipper voice seemed to make strangers feel like they had known him their whole lives. From his detailed storytelling to his funny faces, Tim could always make anyone smile. He had the most contagious laugh that was almost magical. It was amazing how quickly he could change someone’s mood with just a chuckle. He was most recently a Construction Superintendent for Wohlsen Construction and spent thirty-six years in the engineering business. But Tim’s favorite job was being a devoted husband and father. He worked hard every day so he could come home and spoil his four favorite people in the world. He enjoyed grilling steaks in the back yard, laughing until he cried playing Cards Against Humanity and traveling the world with his soul mate. His level of patience was something everyone should strive for and his capacity to love was never ending. Tim is survived by his wife, Susan of thirty-two years; children Jenna, Rachel and Bryan; siblings Pat, Dan, and Greg as well as his nieces, nephews and many other loved ones. Tim was predeceased by his parents, Blandford and Jeanette. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 28, 2017, from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM with a service from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Tuttle Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.