Nicholaus C. Nick Smith, Jr.

NICHOLAUS “NICK” CLEON SMITH, JR. Nicholaus C. Smith, Jr., 64, of Perrysburg passed away peacefully with his wife and daughters by his side on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. He was born in Toledo on November 26, 1947 to Nicholaus C. and Maeola (Oates) Smith, Sr. and was a 1965 graduate of Rossford High School. During his high school years, Nick began his career in the lawn and garden retail business with McBride Equipment of which he later co-owned with his father. He attended Penta Tech and Owens Community College where he studied computer programming. During the mid-1980’s, McBride Equipment was named the largest Simplicity Dealer in the United States and were successful dealers for Arctic Cat Snowmobiles and Stihl Equipment . Sadly in 2001, Nick decided to close McBride Equipment due to his on-going struggle with MS. He was a member of Saddles & Surreys 4H Club and the Maumee Valley Thunderbird Club and was an avid OSU and Rossford Bulldogs sports fan. In his spare time, Nick enjoyed the outdoors spending time with his “furry friends”, gardening and snowmobiling but most of all he cherished his time with his grandchildren. Nick is survived by his wife Sharon D. (Henry) Smith whom he married on November 6, 1970; daughter, Heather (Mark) Nissen and Holly (Chris) Kiefer; grandchildren, Lauren and Austen Nissen and Claire and Cole Kiefer all of Perrysburg Township; mother, Maeola Smith of Perrysburg ; mother –in-law, Betty Henry; and sisters-in-law, Cindy (Dave) Kistner and Lisa (John) Evans and several dear nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Nicholaus, Sr. Friends will be received from 2-9 P.M. on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 E South Boundary Street, Perrysburg, Ohio (419-874-3133). Visitation will continue after 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Avenue in Perrysburg where funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be private. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 401 Tomahawk Drive, Maumee, Ohio 43537 and Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Road, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.