John Smerznak

John Robert Smerznak, 82, passed away on March 31, 2026, in Fairhope Alabama. Born on June 6, 1943, John was the beloved only son of Dr. John Smerznak and Annie "Doris" Solomon of Concord, NC. John spent most of his young life in Concord, graduating from Concord High School in 1961.

John met the love of his life, Linda "Gayle" Daniel on a blind date while he was at Wake Forest University studying business and she was a nursing student Baptist Hospital. They married on September 12, 1964. Shortly after their marriage, John answered the call of service and joined the United States Army. He served as a Captain in the 25th Infantry Division, accompanying the men of the "Tropic Lighting" Division to two tours to Vietnam. When he returned home from the Army, John started working in the furniture industry. By the mid-1980s he was President of Norling Studios in High Point, NC, from where he eventually retired in the 1990s.

John will be most remembered for his love and dedication to his family. He is survived by his children, daughter Creslyn Hill and her husband James, and his son John Smerznak Jr and his wife Carla. He is also survived by grandchildren Emma Barnes (Austin), Dwight Hilton (Emma), John Smerznak III, Ivan Smerznak, Ellie Smerznak, Jackson Smerznak, Iain Smerznak, Beata Smerznak, Alethea Smerznak, and Mikel Hill, and 5 great grandchildren who will miss him dearly. He is also survived by his friend, Wanda Cantrell, with whom he enjoyed many found moments in Alabama.

John was a gifted storyteller, and those that knew him will remember sitting with him around a table, out in the driveway, in the den, or out in the woods, listening to him tell a story. He could make anything into a good story, including a buck he just got during hunting season, a trip to Walmart, a request Gayle made of him, or something funny one of the grandkids had done. Sometimes, John would even treat the grandkids to an old war story, telling about his days in Vietnam.

John had many wonderful qualities, and those that knew him were blessed to call him a friend. 

A graveside service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, April 11th at Oakwood Cemetery in Concord, NC at 2pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorials to be made to Vietnam Veterans of American at vva.org.