Weber Smith

Weber Lee Smith, Jr of Madison and formerly of Milwaukee and Lake Geneva, WI, died on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at Agrace Hospice Center at the age of 91. He was born February 21, 1923 in Elkhorn, WI, the son of Weber Lee and Esther Denninger Smith. He married the love of his life, Marion Carla Nolting of Rockford, IL on June 7, 1947. They were married for 58 years until Carla's death in 2005. Weber was a graduate of Northwestern University in 1945 with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. He graduated from Harvard University in 1947 with a Master's Degree in Business. He served in the U.S. Navy in WWII on an island in the Pacific Ocean. He retired in 1983 as a Commander in the Supply Corps. U.S. Naval Reserves. He worked as a banker in Milwaukee with First Wisconsin National Bank, until he transferred to Madison in 1965. He worked as President of First Wisconsin Bank until he retired in 1975. He then worked as a a stock broker for Merrill Lynch until he retired in 1988. He and his wife Carla loved to play tennis in summers and enjoyed downhill skiing in winters. They planned many vacations around these activities in Florida, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. He was an avid runner and gave much credit for his longevity to the fact that he was active and strong all his life. His children are forever grateful to him for introducing them to the peace and serenity of the Quetico Canada where the family spent weeks on wilderness canoe trips. He is known for solo paddling Pickerel Lake. Web and Carla took their last Quetico canoe trip in 1989, when he was 66. He was an avid sailor. He learned to sail on Lake Geneva and kept a Catboat on Lake Mendota into his '80's. He loved the water, the wind, and the solitude of sailing his boat. He loved music, especially Frank Sinatra. He was an avid reader, and a lifelong learner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marion Carla Nolting in 2005. He is survived by his two children, Weber Lee Smith of Tampa, FL and Carla Ann Smith Coleman (Robert) of Madison; 4 grandchildren, Anna, Ryland, Laura (Coleman), Jessica (Smith); and 3 great-grandchildren. There are no services scheduled. The family would like to thank the staff of Attic Angels and Agrace Hospice for their wonderful care. The family suggests donations be made to Attic Angel Association, 8301 Old Sauk Road, Middleton, WI 53562; and Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

You will embark on a fair sea, and at times there will be fair weather, but not always. You will meet storms and overcome them. You will steer your boat through fair weather and foul. Never lose courage. Safe harbor awaits you in the end. - Daphne du Maurier