George “Skip” Tuetken, of Smithfield, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2026. He was 79 years old.
George was born in Worcester, MA, the firstborn of Vincent Tuetken and Doris Schwager, and grew up in Mount Holly, NJ. He graduated from Rutgers University before being commissioned into the US Army during the Vietnam War, where he completed Officer Candidate School and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He later attended Northeastern University in advance of a 33-year career as a Safety Compliance Supervisor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Springfield, MA, San Jose, CA, and Providence, RI federal offices.
George was actively engaged in the Smithfield community for the 35 years that he resided there. He coached his children’s youth sports teams and volunteered at his grandchildren’s elementary schools. Most prominently, George was a passionate organizer for the Friends of Smithfield Cemeteries volunteer organization, which provided environmental maintenance and educational resources pertaining to Smithfield’s historical cemeteries. He was also a passionate baseball fan, who authored a book on Rhode Island born Major League Baseball players, and regularly contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research.
George was a deep appreciator of history and politics, an avid movie fan (proudly one of the “last” Netflix DVD mail delivery subscribers), and a Boston sports obsessive. He believed in bridging generations through historical preservation and environmental conservation. He was happiest while spending time with family and especially adored his four grandchildren.
George is survived by his wife of 53 years, Norena, of Smithfield; his children David and his wife Sarah, of North Smithfield, and Andrew and his wife Britany, of Smithfield; and his grandchildren, Emma, Hannah, Thomas, and Madeline.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 10-12noon in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Rhode Island Veteran’s Cemetery, Exeter. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Friends of Smithfield Cemeteries: Smith-Appleby House, Attn: Friends of Smithfield Cemeteries, 220 Stillwater Road, Smithfield, RI 02917