W. Clyde Stedman

Wilbur Clyde Stedman, Jr was born on April 08, 1942, and passed away on July 24, 2026, at the age of 84. He was surrounded by his family, an over-zealous window washer, and a dedicated custodian. Clyde grew up in Edina, MN and graduated from Edina high school and Coe College in Iowa. He was a proud naval reservist. He met Kristi at a party, and after getting married they spent 20 years building a family and a life in New Brighton, MN. He was an entrepreneur throughout his life. Clyde enjoyed being his own boss. He liked a good idea and had great skill in bringing it to life. He ran very successful bike and hobby businesses. After his first major cardiac episode in 1986, he transitioned into businesses and jobs that stoked his interests including construction, printing, commercial real estate, and sales. In 2000 he and Kristi moved to Barnum, MN where they spent another 20 years enjoying "the good life" and slowly moving into retirement. Clyde found great peace, friendship, comfort, solitude, belonging, and fulfillment there. It also allowed him to dive deeply into his passions - building and repairing, wilderness, family, and community. Clyde liked to tinker. He had a strong knack for engineering and always had several projects going, often to Krist's chagrin! To say he was passionate about photography would be a terrible understatement. We are hoping that one day we will see some of those pictures, as he wasn't very good at developing or sharing them. Clyde also loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman throughout his life. He had his 2026 MN Fishing license, even though his health and mobility were significantly challenged. It shows how prepared and well-intentioned he was, as well as how optimistic he was. In 2021 Clyde and Kristi moved to Plymouth to be closer to their children and grandchildren. His last 5 years were packed with activities and adventures. Grandkids concerts and games and events, golfing with the guys from church, guitar lessons, and going to the gym filled his days with the things he liked to do. He and Kristi went on several extended road trips across the southern United States, including Florida, New Orleans, and Arizona. You may have heard that Clyde had his health challenges over the last 40 years of his life. We say that Clyde invented the words "health challenge". Hospitals throughout MN tell the stories of a man that was too tough to die. It was always fun for us as a family when doctors, nurses, and cardiologists would review his health history and we would watch their eyebrows raise higher as they double checked the extensive list of entries. He battled against heart disease for four decades, including heart arrests, attacks, stents, angioplasty, and bypasses. And to prove just how tough he was.... Clyde won. His heart, though battered and beaten, carried him through to the very end, and was not the cause of death we had planned on it being for so long. Many of you witnessed his last health challenge, which we begrudgingly dubbed "the wobbles". And although it frustrated him to no end, he never stopped fighting. He was committed to still showing up as much as he could. He laughed his way through it, with the same positive attitude he had throughout his life. He found strong community and friendship in his faith. He loved being active in the churches that rooted his life - Salem Covenant, Barnum Methodist, and Messiah United Methodist. He had strong conviction in his faith, and we are blessed and grateful for his example and leadership in how he lived out his faith in word and deed. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kristi Ann (Allford) Stedman, his brother Joel (Sally) Stedman of Connecticut, three children William Casey (Danielle) Stedman of Mankato, Keely (Joe) Susick of Blaine, and Walter Christopher "Kip" (and Jennifer) Stedman of Eden Prairie, along with 7 grandchildren Weston Curran Stedman, Cooper Stedman Susick, Brody Abrahm Stedman, Macie Jo Susick, Samantha Fendell Stedman, Watson Cade Stedman, and Aloysius "Ali" Durenberger, whom he cherished deeply and was incredibly proud of. Visitation (10am) and Funeral (11am) will be on Saturday, August 15th at Messiah United Methodist Church in Plymouth, MN. Livestream of the service is also available at messiahchurch.org/live

W. Clyde Stedman

April 8, 1942 - July 24, 2026

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