Lloyd William Smale, Jr.

Lloyd William Smale, Jr., age 69, of Christmas, died unexpectedly and peacefully of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. He was born on September 8, 1956 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to the late Lloyd and Rosemary (Lehman) Smale, Sr. Lloyd grew up in Gwinn and graduated from Gwinn High School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1974 to 1978. Lloyd was stationed in Norfolk, VA and Chicago, IL. He returned to the Upper Peninsula and went to work for UPPCO as an electrical lineman. Lloyd worked five years at the Presque Isle Power Plant, five years at the Escanaba Plant, and then moved to Munising in 1988. Lloyd retired from UPPCO in 2009. He met Lisa Alice Gillmet and they were married on February 15, 2008. Lisa tragically preceded him in death on July 5, 2026. It could be said that Lloyd died of a broken heart. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and devout in his Catholic faith. Lloyd enjoyed shooting guns and liked fast cars.

He is survived by his sons – Billy Smale and Randy Wymer; stepdaughter – Rachel Kruse; stepsons – Ryan (Fallon) Borchert and Jordan (Maranda) Borchert; grandchildren – Faith Kruse, Kalin Wymer, Otto Borchert, and Shepard Borchert; great-grandson – Archer; sisters – Marlene (Mark) Breit, Marsha (Roger) Hart, Paul Smale, Michelle (Jerry) Zabrowski, and Carrie (Ernesto ) Galvez; and numerous nieces and nephews. Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lisa, and mother-in-law Alice Gillmet.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Private graveside services will be held at the Serenity Pines Cemetery in AuTrain.