Tadjek Gerald Smith

Tadjek "Tad" Gerald Smith October 28, 1956-November 29, 2023 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 Tad was an unassuming, courageous, and gentle man. Even though he struggled with severe health issues since his forties, he never complained. At one of his recent hospitalizations, a nurse pulled his sisters aside to compliment him saying, "Your brother is a such a nice guy." With courage and grace, he accepted his growing physical challenges and limitations. Tad loved watching CNN, documentaries, and cooking shows. As a lifelong Democrat, one of Tad's favorite past times was discussing politics. He loved a good debater, which was aided by his exceptional memory of recalling dates and facts from political and historical events. Tad started his oratory skills early as a young boy standing on the picnic table in his family's backyard in Omaha, Nebraska to a captive audience of neighborhood children. The eldest of three siblings, Tad, wearing a mischievous grin, enjoyed being the family's jokester. He had a dry sense of humor and a playful laugh. He was famous in the family for his slow cooked and grilled meats. His nephews and nieces were known to ask what Uncle Tad was cooking for family events and holidays. You could always count on Tad to have something good to eat when stopping by his home. He generously greeted every visitor with an offer of a beverage or food. Before you could answer, he returned from his kitchen with a cool drink and a bite of something delicious. Tad accepted Christ in his teens and was baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Central High School in 1974, where he played on the varsity football team, and was a 1976 graduate of Anoka Technical College. He was employed at the University of Minnesota and had lived in Minneapolis for over thirty years, Tad enjoyed his home, gardening, and bicycling around the lakes as his health permitted. He loved having a vase of fresh flowers in his living room window. Tad was loved by his family and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his parents, Boyd and Lavora Smith, sisters, Taunya Smith Freeze and Chyara Smith Stopp (Alex), nephews, Shaun Freeze (Courtney), Travis Freeze (Yue), McKenzie Freeze, Tristan Stopp, great nephews, T.J. Freeze and Pierce Freeze, and great niece, Victory Freeze. He is survived by uncles and aunts as well as numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his niece, Celie Freeze His family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Minnesota Fairview for their kind and compassionate care. Services are being held for Tad on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Washburn & McReavy Funeral Home-Nokomis Park, 1838 E. Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Visitation will be at 2:00p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3:00p.m. Interment will be private.

Tributes

Tadjek Gerald Smith

October 28, 1956 - November 29, 2023

Tributes

Tadjek Gerald Smith

October 28, 1956 - November 29, 2023

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