In Memory of Wesley Smuder

Wesley Smuder, age 77, of Cambridge passed away June 29, 2008 at his home. A Memorial service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 1st at Strike Funeral Home – Cambridge Chapel. A time for visiting will be held 1 hour prior to the service.

Wesley Oliver Smuder was born January 22, 1931 in Columbia Heights to Samuel and Leora Smuder. He was raised in Anoka County and graduated from Anoka High School, Class of 1949. Wesley served in the Army in Korea during the Korean Conflict. On September 27, 1980 he married Elaine Starkey at the Bird In Hand Campground on the banks of the Rum River. Wesley was a business owner, father and grandfather. He was very entrepreneurial and had a variety of employment; a Fuller Brush salesman, bus driver for MTA , worked at the arsenal in New Brighton, did drywall for Donnelly Drywall, his own Plaster and Stucco business that became Smuder Drywall, construction, real estate, Plymouth Plastics and then he worked for Minnco Credit Union in the Cambridge office. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, being a handyman, gardening and hobby farming which he did for over 20 years. He also enjoyed camping and the outdoors in general in all the seasons. He loved music, especially country western and classical, and he loved to sing and play the guitar. He grew mushrooms and raised spider webs. Wesley also coached little league, broomball, was a band booster, cub scout leader and gymnastics coach.

Wesley passed away at his home on June 29, 2008 at the age of 77 years, 5 months and 7 days. He is survived by his wife, Elaine of Cambridge; 3 children, Steven (Jeanne) Smuder of Fridley, Lori Wooden and husband Earl Hefley of Edmond, Oklahoma, Cathryn Evangelista of Hilton Head, South Carolina; and their mother Dorothy; 3 step-children, Laurie Overstad of Stillwater, Lisa (Randy) Kriebich of Calabassas, California, Suzanne (Tim) Hattling of Andover; 11 grandchildren; 1 sister, Irene Sundberg of Brooklyn Park; and by many other relatives and friends.