Soldotna, Alaska, resident Robert Andrew Smithwick, 41, died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, while fishing on the Kenai River.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna. Rob was born in Warsaw, Ind., on Nov. 17, 1968, to Larry and Shari Smithwick and moved to Alaska in the late 1970s. He grew up in Anchorage, where he spent his school days at Grace Christian School and his summers commercial fishing in Ninilchik. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Jenny Davis, he moved to the Kenai Peninsula, where he has been the owner and operator of Pizza Boys for nearly 20 years. The couple has been blessed with five beautiful children.
Mr. Smithwick is remembered as an amazing athlete, all-star golfer, pizza-maker extraordinaire, comedian, and a deeply loved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He was passionate, extravagant, compassionate, generous, unique, thoughtful, unselfish, and a great listener. His infectious laughter brightened the lives of many.
He spoiled his family and friends with his amazing cooking, massaging, and endless other acts of service. He provided endless entertainment with his crazy antics and priceless stories. He specialized in upholstering luxury chairs and making cozy slippers for his family and friends. He loved yard work and poured himself into cultivating a green, flower-filled oasis for his family. He left his wife with 170 rose bushes which he personally planted for her. He loved his family, his employees, his customers, and looked forward with great anticipation to the day he would see his Lord face to face.
His family cites this Bible verse from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
Mr. Smithwick was preceded in death by his sister, Erin Smithwick; grandparents, Bob Smithwick, and Floyd and Laura Moine; his mother-in-law, Lois Davis; and nieces Samantha, Jesse and Kadee Jo Davis.
Mr. Smithwick is survived by his wife, Jenny; his daughter, Amie; his sons, Robbie, Riley, Timmy and Johnny; his parents, Larry and Shari Smithwick; his brother, Eric Smithwick; his in-laws, John and Mary Jo Davis; and his much loved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and a few “adopted” children he collected along the way.
Please take a moment to share memories of Rob at robsmithwick.blogspot.com. His family and friends wish to thank the community for its generous outpouring of goodwill and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating toward the education of Mr. Smithwick’s children through a memorial fund at Alaska USA, listed as “Rob Smithwick Memorial Fund”.
Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=robert-smithwick&pid=144357907#ixzz0vBTp85f5
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