Joseph Burns “Joe” Smith passed away on May 9, 2009 after a short battle with lung cancer – he was 56 years old.

Joe was born in Decatur, IL on November 15^th, 1952 and lived in Berwyn from age 5 until leaving for college in 1972.

After graduating from Morton West High School in 1970 and Morton College in 1972, Joe went to the University of Arizona in Tucson where he achieved a degree in Environmental Science. After graduating, Joe was hired by the Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management, where he worked until his death.

Joe was highly regarded in his field and considered his greatest accomplishment to be his relationships with the Native American tribes of Arizona.  He advocated on their behalf with our government to make sure they received the water promised by the treaties signed.  He was so respected by them that when the Bureau considered transferring Joe to another project, the Gila River tribes said that without Joe all talks would end. Joe was not transferred.

Joe loved nature and spent all his free time out of doors.  He loved to fly fish and sail on the wooden boat that he built.  He was extremely smart, talented and funny.

Joe married a Berwyn girl, and while they divorced, they remained friends until the end.

Preceding him in death was his father; Avlelis Smith. 

He left behind his mother; Sara Hanley and sister Janet Smith-Peterson.