Blair E. Smestad, 90, of Champaign, died November 5, 2015 at the Illini Heritage Nursing Home in Champaign, Illinois.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 21st at 6:00 pm at the Champaign Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 308 S. Mattis Avenue, Champaign, Illinois. Blair was a member and elder in this church for almost fifty years. He used his deep booming bass voice to serve the Lord by leading Bible studies, preaching and singing special music for his fellow believers. Blair was grateful for the many members of his church family that faithfully came to visit him and his wife Lois in the nursing home. Blair E. Smestad was born April 9, 1925 in Bemidji, Minnesota. He was adopted by Annie and William Smestad at six months of age. He grew up in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with his adoptive parents. Blair later was able to reconnect with his birth mother, Selma Dokken Maher, and meet his brothers and sisters.

Blair served in the U.S Army Air Corps at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He had a passion for airplanes; he was a licensed pilot, an instructor and Manager of the flight school at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lois Danielson Smestad of Champaign, two children, Ann King (Don) of Ft. Worth, TX, Brad Smestad (Deb) of Rantoul, IL, and daughter-in-law Tammy Smestad Cranston (Bob) of Mahomet, IL. He is also survived by three sisters, Pat Schwartz (Hollis)of Minneapolis, MN, Nancy Andre (Dave) of Fosston, Minnesota, Sally Kirkvoid (Duwayn) of Anchorage, Alaska, a nephew, Paul Maher (Marge) of Puposky, MN, by seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Bob and Darrell Maher and two sons, Rick Smestad and Larry Smestad, grandson Eric Smestad and Daughter-in-law Donna Smestad.

In addition to his career as a pilot and flight instructor, Blair served as a nursing home administrator and in various other capacities. Blair never met a stranger; he was a friend to all. While in the nursing home he continued his ministry by sharing his personal testimony in a booklet he wrote, When God Said Wait. He eagerly anticipated Christ's soon return, his resurrection, new body and life with Christ through eternity.

Memorials may be made to the Champaign County Humane Society.