Obituary for Gordon Stanley Smith
The family of Gordon Stanley Smith, 85, is profoundly saddened to announce his unexpected passing on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Dover, NH.
He was a loving, devoted husband and father who shared 62 happy years of marriage with his wife, Susan. He will be deeply missed.
Gordon was born on a small farm in Minnesota where he was raised in a family of many siblings before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1955. His USAF work on computer, radar, and communications systems in the U.S. and U.K. solidified an interest in and significant aptitude for electrical and mechanical engineering. He served four years on active duty and an additional four in the reserves. In 1960, while working for Sprague Electric in Barre, VT, he met, as he described, a “good-looking, smart, and sharp-tongued little school teacher,” Susan Ellen Onsruth, the “girl next door” that he eventually convinced to marry him on November 23 of that year, Thanksgiving Day
In repeated, heartfelt thanks for her decision, he composed numerous love letters to his “Soup” as he called her (“delicious, comforting, life sustaining”) on birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays over the next six decades. Their wedding date was prophetic, he often said, as every day with his beloved wife was one of giving thanks.Shortly after their marriage, Gordon and Sue moved to Wisconsin where he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering while she taught special education. What followed was a 60+ year career developing motors for a diverse line of products, from headlight door actuators for Chrysler, to Toro lawnmower’s electric starter, to a speed control switch for golf carts. In 1989 Gordon started his own company, New England Mechatronics, designing and selling motors and controllers to robotics and automation companies across the globe. His designs have universal impact, found in everything from automated protections in military escort vehicles in war zones to scanners for new $100 bills at U.S. Mints and the Bureau of Engraving.
His often demanding and professional life was eclipsed, however, by his love for his children, Stephanie, born in 1962, Heather, born during the blizzard of 1966, and Gunn Grasbakken, his “adopted daughter,” a Norwegian exchange student who remains a beloved member of the family after nearly 40 years of continued mutual visits. His greatest happiness was in celebrating their achievements and marriages, gathering at holidays, and enjoying visits with his grandchildren Bobby and Elizabeth and his Norwegian grandson Bastian. He often applied his creative mind to assisting Bobby with Scout projects, and even in his last days labored over an electronics “primer” for his grandson. He spoke proudly of Elizabeth’s art accomplishments and the special spirit of adventure she brought to his life. Gordon was an engineer, entrepreneur, and optimist, and his long life is an example of hard work balanced with the importance of love of family. He remained a steady, loving partner to his wife and maintained close and special relationships with his loved ones, even traveling with often debilitating back pain to Illinois last year with Sue and Heather for a much-anticipated family reunion. He lived a long, fulfilling life, but too short for those left behind who feel his absence deeply.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Ellen (Onsruth) Smith of Dover; his daughter Stephanie Sue Smith and her partner, Branka Dobricic of St. Petersburg, FL, his Norwegian daughter, Gunn Grasbakken, and her husband Morten of Oslo, Norway and his daughter Heather Ellen Smith and her husband, Robert Smith, Jr. of Dover, NH; his grandson Robert Smith, III and granddaughter Elizabeth Smith of Dover, and his Norwegian grandson, Bastian Bauer of Oslo Norway; and treasured family and friends who will miss his joyful smile, quick wit, and wonderful humor.
Visiting hours are at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave. in Dover, NH on Thursday, April 18th, 2024. 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. The funeral service starts at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery. Please go to www. purdyfuneralservice.com to sign our guest book.
He was a loving, devoted husband and father who shared 62 happy years of marriage with his wife, Susan. He will be deeply missed.
Gordon was born on a small farm in Minnesota where he was raised in a family of many siblings before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1955. His USAF work on computer, radar, and communications systems in the U.S. and U.K. solidified an interest in and significant aptitude for electrical and mechanical engineering. He served four years on active duty and an additional four in the reserves. In 1960, while working for Sprague Electric in Barre, VT, he met, as he described, a “good-looking, smart, and sharp-tongued little school teacher,” Susan Ellen Onsruth, the “girl next door” that he eventually convinced to marry him on November 23 of that year, Thanksgiving Day
In repeated, heartfelt thanks for her decision, he composed numerous love letters to his “Soup” as he called her (“delicious, comforting, life sustaining”) on birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays over the next six decades. Their wedding date was prophetic, he often said, as every day with his beloved wife was one of giving thanks.Shortly after their marriage, Gordon and Sue moved to Wisconsin where he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering while she taught special education. What followed was a 60+ year career developing motors for a diverse line of products, from headlight door actuators for Chrysler, to Toro lawnmower’s electric starter, to a speed control switch for golf carts. In 1989 Gordon started his own company, New England Mechatronics, designing and selling motors and controllers to robotics and automation companies across the globe. His designs have universal impact, found in everything from automated protections in military escort vehicles in war zones to scanners for new $100 bills at U.S. Mints and the Bureau of Engraving.
His often demanding and professional life was eclipsed, however, by his love for his children, Stephanie, born in 1962, Heather, born during the blizzard of 1966, and Gunn Grasbakken, his “adopted daughter,” a Norwegian exchange student who remains a beloved member of the family after nearly 40 years of continued mutual visits. His greatest happiness was in celebrating their achievements and marriages, gathering at holidays, and enjoying visits with his grandchildren Bobby and Elizabeth and his Norwegian grandson Bastian. He often applied his creative mind to assisting Bobby with Scout projects, and even in his last days labored over an electronics “primer” for his grandson. He spoke proudly of Elizabeth’s art accomplishments and the special spirit of adventure she brought to his life. Gordon was an engineer, entrepreneur, and optimist, and his long life is an example of hard work balanced with the importance of love of family. He remained a steady, loving partner to his wife and maintained close and special relationships with his loved ones, even traveling with often debilitating back pain to Illinois last year with Sue and Heather for a much-anticipated family reunion. He lived a long, fulfilling life, but too short for those left behind who feel his absence deeply.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Ellen (Onsruth) Smith of Dover; his daughter Stephanie Sue Smith and her partner, Branka Dobricic of St. Petersburg, FL, his Norwegian daughter, Gunn Grasbakken, and her husband Morten of Oslo, Norway and his daughter Heather Ellen Smith and her husband, Robert Smith, Jr. of Dover, NH; his grandson Robert Smith, III and granddaughter Elizabeth Smith of Dover, and his Norwegian grandson, Bastian Bauer of Oslo Norway; and treasured family and friends who will miss his joyful smile, quick wit, and wonderful humor.
Visiting hours are at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave. in Dover, NH on Thursday, April 18th, 2024. 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. The funeral service starts at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery. Please go to www. purdyfuneralservice.com to sign our guest book.