James L. Smaniotti

Jim was born in Norway, on Nov. 14, 1946, to Charles and Margaret (Van Remorter) Smaniotti. He graduated from Vulcan High School in 1964 and went on to receive an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1967 from Lake Superior State College in Sault Ste. Marie. After graduation, Jim started working for Micro Switch Division of Honeywell in Freeport, Ill., as a manufacturing technician. This is where he met the love of his life, Karleene, and they were married in 1976.

Jim had many different assignments in manufacturing at Micro Switch, earning the title of manufacturing engineer. Taking switch designs from drawings to production was his specialty and he did it so meticulously. Eventually Jim’s career involved management, becoming a supervisor and then superintendent of production. Micro Switch produced keyboards in Freeport and when production was transferred to Las Cruces, N.M., Jim was selected to be location manager. Their daughter, Stephanie, was born in Freeport just before they moved to New Mexico.

When Honeywell divested the keyboard business and sold it to KeyTronics, Jim stayed for a time to assure a smooth transition of manufacturing to Juarez, Mexico where he traveled to regularly. When an opportunity opened in Honeywell’s Richardson, Texas plant, Jim decided it was time to move again, this time to Allen, Texas, where they would live for 31 years.

In Richardson, Jim worked in the Fiber Optic group developing manufacturing specifications and assuring product quality. Honeywell again chose to sell another business, this time, Fiber Optics to Finisar where Jim continued with his career for another 15 years. Finisar was then bought by II-VI Corporation in 2019 and moved to Sherman, Texas. After 52½ years and many different roles, Jim retired in January 2020.

Jim enjoyed working in his yard, playing golf (once getting a hole in one), attending most of the Allen Eagle football games and most of all he enjoyed spending time with his grand dogs, Blubelle, Miller and Austyn. He was also involved with the Allen Eagle Escadrille for several years. He loved watching NASCAR and Formula 1 racing. As a young boy, he started watching the Green Bay Packers and remained loyal to them throughout the years — never wavering to another team. More than anything, Jim cherished the time he spent and all the precious memories he made with his family and friends in Upper Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico, and Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Karleene; daughter Stephanie (Jeremy) Pfaff; granddaughter Jacye (Taylor) Ricco; great-grandchildren Ansleigh and Judge; brother Dick (Patty) Smaniotti of Vulcan; nephew/godson Rick Smaniotti of Loretto; niece Tricia (Pat) Dani of Hermansville; other family members Sami (Wyatt) Alderman, Sydney (Garrett) Butler, Laylah, Jesi, Tori and Nick Dani; and goddaughter Courtney (Jeremy) Matz of McKinney, Texas.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Margaret Smaniotti; brother Michael; and nephew Levi Butler.

Jim’s funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N. Greenville Ave., Allen, Texas 75002. Rite of committal will be at the end of Mass in their Columbarium. The family will receive friends before and after the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jim’s memory to a charity of your choice. For those in Upper Michigan, please make donations in his memory to the Jake Menghini Museum in Norway.

To convey condolences and to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.