Daryl Smith

Daryl G. Smith Portage/Madison Daryl passed away at hospice at the VA Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin on July 10, 2025 after 4 weeks having been diagnosed with Amyloidis cancer at the age of 70. He was born in Portage, Wisconsin on November 24, 1954 to George and Twyla Smith. He attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Portage High School in 1972. After high school he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed on an aircraft carrier in Japan. After his military service he enrolled at Western Wisconsin Technical College in Lacrosse in the HVAC program and graduated with honors. He went on to work at several HVAC companies in Madison and then worked at MG&E, CUNA as an energy management consultant, and also at WPPI in Green Bay. He also started his own painting business in the Madison area. Daryl loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a willing and eager participant in many outdoor activities. In his youth, Daryl hunted and bagged whitetail deer with family and friends on the family land by the Wisconsin River in Portage. Backcountry Canadian canoe trips and a fly-in fishing trip or two provided lasting memories and exaggerated stories about who caught the most and biggest fish. Standard fare for the fishing gang. While attending school in LaCrosse in training for HVAC certification Daryl might have missed a class or two to escape to Lake Onalaska to fish pan fish and later invite folks to sample the catch. A guy has to have his priorities. Those were great years. Daryl also played slow pitch softball for many years and possibly invented “trash talking” before it became a thing. Regardless of what he was involved doing he could always be counted on to show and and have a good time. Daryl also played volleyball at Christy’s Landing for many years. Card games on a regular basis with the neighbors was a given on any night! Daryl met Michelle in 1977 and after 13 years were married in 1990. They enjoyed trips to Mexico, Jamaica and Costa Rica. They later divorced but have remained friends over the years. Daryl loved his animals sometimes spending more time at his house than the owners and eventually taking them in. Tezla, Wiggy, Snickers, Peaches and Maxine all were well loved! Daryl is survived by his sister Vicky of Arizona and brother Neale of Jefferson. He was predeceased by his parents George and Twyla and his brothers Gregory and Steven. He is also survived by aunts, uncles and numerous nieces and nephews. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Portage, Wisconsin. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Daryl, even though we didn’t grow old together as we planned, you were and always will be in my heart. So many friends have passed before you and I’m sure you have been reunited with your family and close friends. Thanks to Daryl’s close friends who have been there with Daryl from the beginning and special thanks to Steve Merklein and Ben Jackson.

Daryl Smith

November 24, 1954 - July 10, 2025