William E. Smitka, Sr., age 77 of Clinton, Missouri passed away Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, Clinton, Missouri. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 22, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Clinton with burial in Clinton Memory Gardens Cemetery, Clinton. A Rosary will be held at 6:00 P.M., Thursday at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton with a visitation to follow until 7:30 P.M. Family suggests contributions to the Clinton Senior Center and may be left at the funeral home. Fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Bill was born July 11, 1935 in Sugar Creek, Missouri, the son of George W. and Susie (Firic) Smitka. He served in the U. S. Army. He worked for Kansas City Power and Light as a pipe insulator. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Legion Post. No 14, Clinton and the Eagles Lodge, Clinton. He attended the Clinton Senior Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Susie; two brothers, Don and George and three sisters, Cleo, Alice and Mary Rose.

He is survived by his wife, Carol of the home: three sons, William E. Smitka, Jr. (Linda) and James R. Smitka (Penny), all of Clinton and John J. Smitka (Crissy) of Lee's Summit, Missouri; one brother, Aaron Smitka (Rose) of Blue Springs, Missouri; one sister, Margie Barron of Independence, Missouri as well as eleven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Arrangments have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton.