Ecclesiastical obituary and funeral arrangements for Rev. Fr. D. Stephen Smith:
The Reverend Father Dennis Stephen Smith entered eternal life Wednesday, June 11, 2025, after79 years of life, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He was born December 10, 1945, in Jacksonville, Florida, and baptized at St. Edward’s Chapel (Naval Air Base) in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 26, 1945. Fr. Smith is predeceased by his parents, Dr. Louis and Agnes (Demuth) Smith.
After attending Saint Clement Parish Grade School in Lancaster, Wisconsin, Fr. Smith completed his high school studies and general collegiate studies at Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse, Wisconsin. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. Fr. Smith continued studies at the Catholic University of America and earned a Master of Arts degree in 1969 and a Ph.D. in 1975. Fr. Smith was ordained to the sacred priesthood by The Most Reverend Cletus F. O’Donnell, Bishop of Madison, on June 16, 1973, at St. Clement Parish Church, Lancaster, Wisconsin.
Fr. Smith began ministering in the Diocese of Madison as a Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Madison, and then as a Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison, St. William Parish, Janesville, St. Bernard Parish, Middleton, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie. Fr. Smith also served as chaplain at Madison General Hospital, Madison, (now UnityPoint Meriter Hospital). Fr. Smith ministered as pastor of Ss. Andrew and Thomas Parish, Tennyson-Potosi, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Cross Plains, and Christ the King Parish, McFarland, from which he retired as Pastor Emeritus. Fr. Smith also served in numerous roles for the Diocese of Madison, including on the Diocesan Cemetery Board, the Diocesan Board of Education, the Diocesan Services Appeal Board, the Presbyteral Council (including the Priest Health, Emmaus, and Ecumenical Committees), and as the Director of Cemeteries, the Ecumenical Representative and later as the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, and the Dean of the West Dane Deanery.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Christ the King Church, 5306 Main St., McFarland, Wisconsin, on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 11:00 am. The Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, will celebrate the Holy Mass, with the Reverend Father Randy Budnar, Parochial Vicar of the parishes of St. Cletus Pastorate, Oregon-Stoughton, as homilist. A visitation will be held at Christ the King Church on Monday, June 23rd from 9:00 a.m. until shortly before the time of the Funeral Mass. A luncheon will follow the Funeral Mass at the church hall at Christ the King Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ the King Church in McFarland and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Online condolences may be left at Gunderson Funeral Home at:
https://www.gundersonfh.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?page=1.Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
