Wilson “Dean” Smith

Wilson “Dean” Smith, 60, of Lansing, passed away on November 1, 2026, at Sparrow Hospital. Born in Lansing, Michigan, Dean graduated from Lake City High School. Dean discovered his passion for woodworking at a young age, winning prizes for his work as a teenager. He turned these skills into a successful woodworking career as Owner/Operator of Custom Creations helping people turn a house into their dream homes. Custom Creations was also the name of the softball team that he played on and sponsored, playing weekly at Gier Park and traveling to tournaments on the weekends. Known to many as a charismatic person, Dean enjoyed spending time at his lake house in Six Lakes where he liked to pull tubers behind the boat, sit around the campfire and tend to his flowers there. Dean very much enjoyed his snacks and sweet treats, often being the first one in line at a gathering. He was very excited to learn that he would be becoming a grandpa in the coming months.

Dean was preceded in death by his mother, Cheryl Dexter, and his sister, Tammy Marcusse.

Dean is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Branden, Collin and Nevaeh, and Braelyn; his children’s mother, Renee Wheeler Smith; his girlfriend, Melissa Westphal; his father, Howard Dexter; and his sisters, Tracy Smith (Robert), Tonya Rader (Gary), Teresa Reid (John), and Tricia Wieferich (Eric).

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. His family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.