Svaldi, Trudee J.

Trudee J. Svaldi, 71, of Marion, Iowa, formerly of Manchester, Iowa, was peacefully drawn home to the Light on Monday, July 1, 2013, surrounded by friends and family following a courageous battle against breast cancer. A celebration of Trudee's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. July 20, at the Community Congregational Church, Manchester, with the Rev. Kurt Pasko officiating. The family welcomes visitors at a reception at the church following the service. Entombment will be at 3 p.m. July 20 in the Linwood Mausoleum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Trudee was born Sept. 14, 1941, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Kenneth R. and Opal J. (Umphenour-Martin) Schmitt. She graduated from Washington High School, Cedar Rapids, in 1959. Trudee later graduated from Kirkwood Community College in 1980 and then from Coe College in 1982 with a BA degree in English. On June 11, 1960, Trudee was united in marriage to Arthur “Lynn” Svaldi at First Lutheran Church in Manchester. She worked at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, the Manchester Public Library and taught at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Lynn and Trudee were owner/operators of Standard Auto Parts Inc. in Manchester for 30 years.

Trudee was a member of the Community Congregational Church, Manchester, and a sister in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AS. She was also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honorary fraternal organizations. Trudee was active in her church serving on the deacon council, committee chair and church clerk and involved in her community volunteering with the Circle of Arts, Girl Scouts, AAUW, Professional Women's Network, Delaware County Master Gardeners, the American Red Cross board of directors and the Iowa Regional Library Board. She enjoyed gardening, puzzles and games, playing cards, reading, traveling and always enjoyed learning something new. Trudee cherished the love of her family and friends and lived to make others laugh.

Trudee leaves behind her beloved husband of 53 years, Arthur Lynn of Marion; her daughter, Elaina (Michael) Kempin of Cedar Rapids; a granddaughter, Rachel Fortman of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Joyce (Norman) Queen of Soldier, Iowa; and her mother-in-law, Verna Svaldi of Manchester.

Trudee has been reunited with her parents, Kenneth and Opal Schmitt; brother, David “Michael” Schmitt; and an infant sister, Kennetha Kaye Schmitt.

In lieu of flowers, Trudee has requested memorials be directed to St. Luke's Hospice and the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation.

Please sign the online guest book for Trudee at under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette July 3, 2013.