Former Mayor James Smith is being remembered as a selfless, family man (2024)

RACINE — James “Jim” Smith, Racine’s 55th mayor whose legacy includes “Make a Difference Day” and the city’s intergovernmental sewer agreements, passed away Aug. 27 at age 84.

Smith died at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with his wife, Joyce Smith, by his side, according to family members.

Mayor Cory Mason on Tuesday ordered flags at Racine City Hall to be flown at half-staff in Smith’s honor, according to a Facebook post from Mason.

“It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing of former Mayor Jim Smith,” Mason said. “I was fortunate to count him as a friend. On behalf of the City of Racine, I extend deepest condolences to Joyce Smith and the Smith family. May he rest in peace.”

Service as mayor

Smith served as alderman for Racine’s District 13 from 1985-95, before becoming the city’s 55th mayor in 1995. He served until 2003, elected for two terms.

As mayor, Smith led the Executive Management Team City Plan Commission, Community Development, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Partnership and Wastewater Commissions, according to family members.

Smith also received the John H. Batten Award for outstanding community service. As mayor, he brought “Make a Difference Day,” a national day of service, to Racine, for which the city was named one of the top 10 volunteer communities in the country with 9,000 volunteers.

Former alderwoman Lorna George, elected to the Common Council in 1994, worked closely with Smith during his time as mayor.

While George and Smith made opposite votes on most agenda items during their one-year overlap as Common Council members, George said she was impressed by Smith’s commitment to an open-door policy and the support he garnered from a diverse array of residents during his campaign for mayor.

“When we had one fundraiser for (Smith), then-Governor Tommy Thompson, who was Republican, came to the event and looked around and said, ‘How did you create this rainbow coalition?’ Because it was that unique,” she said.

Alder David Maack said Smith was the first mayor he served under as a Common Council member.

“He served our city with distinction as an alderman, as a mayor,” he said.

Smith’s accomplishments include creating the intergovernmental sewer agreement between the city and surrounding municipalities; supporting downtown development; improving public safety, paramedic and other city services; and instituting a merit-based pay system for city employees, according to George.

“He was a really good mayor, and I don’t know that he ever got quite the due that he deserved,” she said.

Work outside of city hall

Smith was deeply involved in his community, even outside of his time as alderman and mayor. According to family members, Smith always said, “Life is not a spectator sport.”

Prior to serving the city, Smith was a manufacturing manager at Twin Disc, Inc., where he worked for 33 years, according to family.

Following his time as mayor, Smith became an agent at Shorewest Realtors, where he partnered with his daughter, Amy Karegeannes, as a “father-daughter team.”

Karegeannes said that as Smith’s only daughter, they shared a uniquely personal relationship, which expanded once they became real estate partners in 2003.

The two were a team for 13 years.

“Today, I am overwhelmingly appreciative of our time together shared in real estate,” she said. “It was more than business — it was an opportunity to have a surplus of time with my dad. That’s really what every daughter wants.”

Outside of work, Smith was a life-long member of Racine Christian Reformed Church, where he served as deacon, elder and chairman of committees; he served on the board of directors at Racine Christian School; and was personnel chairman and one of the founders of the Men’s Booster Club.

He also was involved in Racine Neighborhood Watch, Racine Sesquicentennial Executive Committee, Governor’s Gang Violence Preventative Council, Racine Raiders Board and Downtown Rotary Club, according to family members.

A selfless, family man at heart

Past coworkers, friends and family alike described Smith as a big family man.

Maack said that while Smith had many accomplishments as mayor, what he remembers most isn’t Smith’s political accomplishments, but how devoted he was to his family.

Smith was born Nov. 13, 1939, to Dave and Eula Smith in Racine. He married Joyce Kuiper, who family members said was his high school sweetheart and best friend, on March 10, 1961, at Racine Christian Reformed Church.

Maack recalled a time when he and Mayor Smith, along with 77 public officials, attended a specialized training class for a disaster exercise that simulated a tornado hitting the City of Racine and required participants to react as if it were real.

“The first call that Jim Smith made wasn’t to the police chief or the fire chief or public works. It wasn’t to me. It was to his wife, Joyce,” Maack said. “That really struck me that even in a crisis situation, his first concern was for his family.”

Smith’s daughter said that if she had to describe her father in one word, it would be selfless.

“He lived generously while putting others before himself, placing his priorities in his faith, family and community,” Karegeannes said. “My dad often centered conversations around the idea of his legacy, and for him, it was his family.”

Karegeannes said that apart from her father’s faith, the most valuable piece of his life was his marriage; Smith was “altogether, unconditionally committed to loving, honoring, and serving” his wife.

“He loved my mom with a selfless love,” Karegeannes said. “A love so dedicated and so concerned with one another, that their marriage has been set apart in its own category of devotion and serves as a shining example to me.”

Smith’s visitation will occur from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Road, Mount Pleasant. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at Racine Christian Reformed Church, 900 Illinois St., Racine, with visitation starting at 10 a.m.

The visitation and funeral services are open to the public.

Memorial donations can be made in Smith’s name to the Racine Christian Reformed Church or Footprints Missions and Orphanage in Sierra Leone, Africa, c/o Kaitlyn Block, Executive Director, 3230 N. Reid Road, Alma, MI 48801. Footprints Missions and Orphanage was founded by Smith’s son, Dr. Jeff Smith.

Smith is survived by his wife, Joyce Smith; his children Dr. Jeff (Kathy) Smith, Tom Smith and Amy (George) Karegeannes; grandchildren Dr. Josh (Savannah) Smith, Katie (Jordan) Block, Nate (Madeline) Smith, Olivia (Marshall) Nash, Sophia (Matt) Leppien, Ella Karegeannes, Jack Smith, Samantha (Micah) Carty and Nicky Smith; great-grandchildren James, Leo, Marie, Reagan, Macy, Bella, Cameron, Lillian and soon to arrive Carter and Asher; brother Gary (Ruth); brother-in law Harv Nichols; sister-in law and brother-in law Shirley (Dan) Petersen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Smith was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, his brother Donald and his sisters Pat, Mary Ann and Kathy.