Robert "Bob" Smart

Robert Floyd Smart, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at his home surrounded by loving family.  A direct descendant of the second homesteader to Waukesha, Bob was born on July 31, 1919 to Floyd and Hazel Smart and was raised in the family home on McCall Street. Bob became an Eagle Scout in 1933 and graduated from Waukesha High School at age 15. He developed cherished memories as a young man working for Western Union (biking through a record cold winter) and for Fox's Dairy, as well as traveling the country. He then attended UW-Madison and Carroll College.    After graduating from Carroll College in 1942, he enlisted and was sent to Naval Pre-Flight School in Iowa. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II as a navigator/bombardier on a B-25 Mitchell in the South Pacific. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was awarded the Purple Heart having been wounded by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while completing a bombing raid in the South Pacific. After the war and his convalescence, he returned to Waukesha. He served as an alderman and lost a mayoral race for which he was later grateful! Bob entered the real estate business and, in 1948, founded Smart Realty Company with an emphasis on land speculation. He continued his business involvement to the very end.  Bob had a great appreciation for the arts and supported a variety of art endeavors. He loved music and supported the Waukesha Symphony during its early struggles. His great love was for jazz, until compromised by severe hearing impairments. He was very active within his profession and worked to help establish the Waukesha MLS. He served as president of the Waukesha County Board of Realtors in 1952, president of the Wisconsin Realtors Association in 1961 and was vice-president of the National Association of Realtors in 1964.  He served as chairman of the Wisconsin Legal Action Fund in the early 80's. He was a board member of the Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties Multiple Listing Service, also in the 80’s. Bob had a deep sense of duty to Waukesha and served his community generously in many ways including: Common Council member from 1946-48, board of directors for the Marine Bank of Waukesha from 1962-82, founding member of the Montessori School of Waukesha in 1964, director of the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce in 1974, board of directors of the Waukesha YMCA, serving as president in 1977. He was a long time member of the Waukesha Kiwanis Club and its president in 1978.  He also was a board member of the Waukesha County Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the American Legion. Bob was especially proud to work as president of the Board of Trustees for the YWCA, encouraging its establishment. Bob remained a loyal member to his Sigma Pi Epsilon fraternity for many years. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Carol Jane O'Loughlin, and their 6 children and 10 grandchildren: Dr. Brian Smart (Rebecca Grant) of Seattle; Julie (Jon) Balicki and children Jonathan, Joel, Joshua and Jami of Waukesha; Jonathan (Kristin) Smart and daughters Kayla and Lauren of Minneapolis; David (Lisa) Smart and son Isaac of Waukesha; Timothy (Chune Hee) Smart and twins Thomas and Ryan of Seoul, South Korea; Paul (Sujeong) Smart and son Taeho, also of Waukesha.  He is preceded in death by his beloved infant son Wendell, and his only sibling, Jack Smart and Jack’s daughter, Barbara Buth. Surviving children of his brother include: Sally Cherek, Mary Black, John Smart, Steve Smart, and Bob Smart. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lief Esbensen and staff at Moreland Family Medical Associates.  Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at Randle-Dable Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Services will continue Monday, April 18, at the funeral home with prayers at 9:45 a.m., followed by a procession to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186 for the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Graveside services with full military honors will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of ones choice or to A.C.A.P. 121 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha 53186 or to the Congregation of the Great Spirit, 1050 W. Lapham Blvd., Milwaukee 53204. For further information please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 262-547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute.