Leland “Lee” E. Smits, who worked for more than 30 years in the advertising department at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, died Saturday, March 6. He was 93.
Smits was born Nov. 16, 1927, in De Pere to Peter and Violet (VanSustern) Smits. Growing up on the city’s west side, Smits was one of five children. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1946 and served in Japan during World War II.
On April 7, 1951, Smits married Bette J. Kispert. Together they raised four children, Leanne, Gary, Amy and Patrick. They also had seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
- RELATED: Gerry Mueller, former Fond du Lac reporter, dies at 82
- RELATED: Andy Thompson, longtime Post-Crescent editor, dies at 63
In 1954, Smits joined the advertising sales staff at the Press-Gazette. He started in classifieds and later moved to retail advertising. In 1965, he was named retail advertising manager, and in 1971, he moved up to assistant advertising director.
Smits served as president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and was a member of the International Newspaper Advertising and Marketing Executives Association. From 1981 through his retirement in 1985, Smits also served on the management committee for the Press-Gazette.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
