Dick Wedell was former mayor, commissioner

Dick Wedell, a former mayor of Shoreview and a Ramsey County commissioner who was a pioneer in providing parks and trails in a metro area suburban city, died Tuesday in White Bear Lake.

Wedell, 77, suffered from Alzheimer's disease and brain cancer.

He served on the Shoreview City Council from 1968 to 1977 and as mayor from 1978 to 1991.

"Dick really cared about everybody. He wanted more than anything to create a community that would be the best place to raise your family," said Shoreview Mayor Sandy Martin.

In the late 1970s, he was spurred to find safe bikeways for children after a girl was killed in an accident.

He formed a task force to get trails built, and now Shoreview has 60 miles of bike trails and sidewalks where kids can ride, said Martin.

Wedell was also key in getting the Shoreview Community Center built in 1990 and led efforts to provide youth activities and sports, especially hockey.

In the 1970s, "he realized it was more than just having roads and fire and police protection," Simonson said. "He was always extremely positive and excited about the next big thing."

After leaving office as mayor of Shoreview, he was elected in 1993 to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, where he served four years.

At the county, he pushed for light-rail funds from U.S. Congress when there was little support at the Legislature for the light-rail line connecting downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.

"He was always interested in new ideas and always interested in learning more," said Susan Haigh, a former Ramsey County commissioner, who recalled him as a "kind, creative guy."

In 1949, Wedell graduated from St. Paul's old Monroe High School, and in 1954, from the University of Minnesota's School of Business.

After leaving the county board, he served on numerous boards and commissions, such as Store to Door, which delivers food to home-bound people; the 621 Foundation, which supports Mounds View Schools, and the Shoreview Parks and Recreation Board.

The League of Minnesota Cities gave him its C.C. Ludwig award for Outstanding Mayor in 1991.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Peggy, of Shoreview; daughters Linda Mulhern of St. Paul, Lisa Ueki of Shoreview, Laura Paramo of Simpsonville, S.C.; son, Michael of Arden Hills; brothers Robert of White Bear Lake and Donald of Kalispell, Mont., and eight grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Richard A. Wedell Room, Shoreview Community Center, 4600 N. Victoria St., Shoreview.