Mark Timothy Smith, 57, Crystal Lake

Mark Timothy Smith, 57, of Crystal Lake, IL and
Naperville, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday,
April 8, 2026 with family and loved ones by his side. He was
born on July 15, 1968 in Melrose Park, Illinois, the only son
of Bonnie (Whitford) Smith.
Mark grew up in Hoffman Estates, IL, however he spent
every summer and holiday of his youth with family on the
Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
and considered himself a Yooper through and through. He
graduated from Hoffman Estates H. S. in 1987. He started
working at a young age in construction and he loved
building and fixing things. He attended Colorado State
University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
His vast knowledge of construction and attitude towards
real-world experience gained with many construction
projects brought him into the engineering world, first to
Rempy-Sharpe where he worked with the City of North
Aurora and then to RJN Group in Downers Grove in 2014
where he was a dedicated and respected employee who
served as a role model and mentor for many, especially
book-learned engineers and younger staff.
Outside of work Mark was an avid fisherman and a
dedicated football fan of both the Green Bay Packers and
the Michigan Wolverines. He loved family, nature, and he
was unmatched behind a grill. He dearly valued integrity
and ethics. He was a master at establishing and maintaining
connections with people, turning them into lifelong friends.

Mark was dedicated to raising his sons above all else, three
boys who were his greatest pride.
Mark is survived by his three sons Connor of Phoenix, AZ,
Nolan and Grant of Algonquin, IL, as well as his partner
Karol Gasteyer Giokas of Naperville, IL, and many cousins,
aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews who were very dear to him
across the county. He was preceded in death by his mother
Bonnie (née Whitford) Smith, and his grandparents James
and Margaret (née Zadravetz) Whitford of Ahmeek, MI.
A celebration of life will be held on May 1, 2026 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation
Services, 44 S. Mill Street, Naperville, IL 60540.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either:

· The Nature Conservancy where donations in Mark’s name
will support work on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the UP.
Nature.org/midonate

· Arbor Day Foundation supporting restoration of Michigan state forests. https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative-
trees-for-others?producttype=TIM
For more information, please call (630) 355-0213 or visit
www.friedrich-jones.com