Kikumi Ada Smith
MARQUETTE, MI – Kikumi Ada Smith, age 70, of Marquette died peacefully on January 2, 2026, in the care of her family and Upper Peninsula Home Health & Hospice, from a short battle with cancer.
Kikumi was born March 28, 1955, to Kent and Kiyomi Smith in Ft Riley Kansas where her father Kent was stationed in the military. She moved to Michigan in 1958 with her family when her father, who served in both the Korean War and World War II as a Master Sergeant and Military Police, retired from Ft Leonard Wood in Missouri.
After graduating from St Ignace LaSalle High School, and attending Lansing Community College, Kikumi worked for the State of Michigan for 47 years, the last 37 of those with the Department of Environmental Quality in Marquette.
After retiring, Kikumi returned to NMU to finish her undergrad degree in psychology. She also enjoyed reading, biking, skiing and music. Above all, Kikumi was a devoted mother who shared her love for the outdoors and an active lifestyle with her son.
She is survived by her son Luke Alexander, her two brothers Robin (Monica) and Daniel Smith, her niece Katrina (Josh) and their daughter Berkli.
Anyone who would like to honor Kikumi we ask to donate to Upper Peninsula Home Health & Hospice (https://www.uphomehealth.org/)