Date of Birth:
Wednesday, December 7, 1955
Date of Death:
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Age:
66 years old

Gary Robert Smith

Gary Robert Smith died unexpectedly on August 23, 2022 at his home in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. He was born to Marlene Koehler Smith and Sandy Robert Smith in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 7, 1955. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minnesota, and from Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Following his father’s footsteps in broadcasting, Gary was broadcast chief engineer at Cumulus Media. Previously he was owner, engineer, and voice talent at Smith Music Network, as well as chief engineer, announcer and Loveline host for other broadcast companies. His mother and father inspired his love of music. Sandy Smith played trumpet with many well-known bandleaders, including Al Hirt. Gary was the drummer for country legend Dottie West as well as Gene Watson and other notable country musicians. He drummed and sang for many Upper Midwest bands. For Gary, music was both vocation and avocation. Perhaps that is why he so loved going to work.  His friends and colleagues speak of his kindness, how he had time for everybody, stopping to talk to them no matter how tired or busy he was. But he treasured his solitude, walking daily around Como Park or in Chester Woods Park, where he found companionship in nature. He filled his home with nature’s companionship through his love of gardening and his cats, who were his kids.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his best friend, Jim. He is survived by his brother Randy Smith (Kelly Henderson McNair), sister Diane Svoma (Dennis), nieces Lyndsey Kasper (Joshua) and Sami Jo Crawford (Sean Keeran) and grandnieces Lena Marie Kasper, Kiley Poellinger and Kali Keeran.

Gary Robert Smith’s memorial service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, you may honor Gary by sending expressions of sympathy to Randy Smith 4701 Campbell Avenue White Bear Lake MN 55110. Gary’s family is grateful for your generosity, which will be expressed in a garden planted in his memory.