Bill Lyle Smith, 72, of De Pere, passed away, from natural causes, Sunday, February 26th, 2023. The son of Ted and Lila (Barnett) Smith, Bill was born on April 19th, 1950 in Lincoln, Illinois. Bill grew up in various small towns in Illinois, living also in Minneapolis, MN, Antigo, WI and spending his final years in Green Bay, WI and Rochester, MN.

Bill was a gentle, beautiful soul, who had a wonderful sense of humor and a lifelong love of movies and entertainment. In his youth he wanted to be a performer but that was not to be. Bill had an extraordinary passion for music. From the Crooners to Contemporary Christian he let music feed his soul with a peace he couldn't seem to find anywhere else. In his late 20's he renewed a relationship with Jesus Christ and turned his interest to Southern Gospel concerts, praise and worship, and living out a quiet faith in his Lord and Savior.

Bill was genuine in who he was and honest when he spoke to you. He was a man the world never really knew, in his truest self, and didn't really want to. But we, his family, knew him, and the Lord knew him, and we loved him dearly. His departure leaves a hole in our hearts that's bigger than he ever would have imagined his life could produce.

Bill is survived by his sister Rhonda (Bruce) Lecus, his brother Brian (Sandy) Smith, nieces and nephews Kim Wilson, Justin (Andrea) Lecus, Megan (Jason) Peters, Matt (Christine) Lecus, Heather Smith, Faith (Bruce) Thornburgh, Lin (Gene) Roland, Sherry Hibbert, and Lisa Tlougan.

He was preceded in death by his brother Danny Lowell Smith, his sister Sharon Wilson, and his parents Ted and Lila Smith.

A funeral service will be held from 1pm to 2pm on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, at Nicolet Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum, 2770 Bay Settlement Road, Green Bay. Ryan Funeral Home, De Pere, is assisting the family.