Eugene Vorderbruggen

Eugene Edward Vorderbruggen was born January 22, 1957, in Bemidji, Minnesota to Matthias Jr. and Helen (Mistic) Vorderbruggen. He spent his early childhood in Grass Valley, California, before his family returned to Minnesota in 1965.
During his high school years, Eugene was active in FFA and Mrs. Floura's Food Service class, where he earned the Betty Crocker Award. A talented musician, he played the banjo in his father's polka band and had a love of music throughout his life. He graduated from high school in 1975.
After graduation, Eugene moved to Green River, Wyoming, where he worked in construction before returning to Minnesota to attend Dunwoody Institute, graduating from the Auto Body program. He later founded Vorderbruggen Auto Body, beginning a lifelong and respected career in the automotive industry.
In 1983, Eugene married Valerie Charles, and the couple moved to El Paso, Texas. There, he worked for Mack Massey Motors as the body shop manager before joining Progressive
Insurance, where he served as an Adjuster Trainer for 16 years. While in El Paso, Eugene
developed a passion for motocross, often riding with a close group of friends in the Red Sands Desert whenever he could.
After returning to Minnesota in 2012, Eugene continued his career as the Body Shop Manager at Chester Berg Toyota. Following Valerie's passing from cancer in 2014, Eugene was blessed to find love again, marrying Sheila Smith in 2017. Eugene and Sheila enjoyed many vacations together, including to the Bahamas in 2024, annual trips to Medora with good friends David & Karleen, and many more adventures throughout the years with the last highlight being a 7 -day Alaskan Cruise the beginning of July 2025.
Eugene was known for his kind heart, his talent for mentoring and training others, and his deep faith. He served as a deacon at Country Faith Church in Clearbrook, where he also shared his gift of music by singing in the occasional holiday church choirs.
He will be remembered for his warm smile, strong work ethic, mechanical skill, and great sense of humor. Eugene loved his family dearly and felt deeply blessed to be welcomed by Sheila's children and grandchildren, who brought him great joy. He loved spending time riding side-by-side with friends and family, but also cherished being at home in his shop, where he could clean, organize, and take on mechanical repairs-from cars to small engines, and tackling various projects around the house, crossing items off multiple to-do lists. He especially enjoyed helping his neighbor, Bryce (who was like the son he never had), with repairs and simply hanging out together.
Eugene was preceded in death by his first wife, Valerie (Charles) Vorderbruggen; grandparents, Matthias and Ann (Stegmiller) Vorderbruggen Sr. and James and Anna (Falk) Mistic; his father, Matthias Vorderbruggen Jr; his stepfather, Robert Widerski; and his sister- in-law Nicole Hagen.
He is survived by his wife Sheila Vorderbruggen of Clearbrook, MN; Sheila's children; son, Ryan Smith of Paris, TN, his children Keiden, Kolton, & Korbin, daughter, Kayla (Justin) Stukenholtz of Big Lake, MN, their children Ryker, Conner, Trevor, & Brystal, son, Roman (Chelsea) Smith of Clarksville, TN, their children Peyton, Paxton, Paisley, & Presleigh, son Kole (Anna) Smith of Springville, TN, their children, Kyrie & Brycen, daughter Casey (Austin) Spaulding of Solway, MN; his mother Helen Widerski of Bemidji, MN; his mother-in-law Beverly Madden of Bemidji, MN; his siblings Stephen (Laurene) Vorderbruggen of Butternut, WI; Frank (Becky) Vorderbruggen of Perham, MN; Karl Vorderbruggen of Penn Valley, CA; Rosemary (Eric) Gustafson of Nebish, MN; Anthony (Deb) Vorderbruggen of Castle Rock, CO; and Matthias Prag of Wenatchee, WA; his sister-in-law Stacy (Todd) Bannor of Laporte, MN; his brother- in-law Dustin Hagen of Bagley, MN; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Eugene's legacy of faith, kindness, devotion to his wife and family and craftsmanship will live on in all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the Country Faith Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, Minnesota with a time of sharing starting at 6:30 p.m. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com