lit a candle 4h ago42 years driving truck. that's not nothing, that's a whole life spent on the road, every state probably, all those nights away from the family just to keep things going. my grandfather drove for Yellow Freight out of Birmingham for about that long and it wrecks your back and your knees and nobody ever writes a story about it unless something like this happens. Blue Earth Minnesota, never been, probably never will, but I hope it was good to him. 1966 to 69 in the Army too, Vietnam, so the man did two hard jobs back to back basically. anyway. rest easy sir. edit: didn't realize he lost his wife just last year, that's rough, two years apart like that
Their story
Paul H. Walder was a Vietnam War veteran and longtime truck driver from Blue Earth, Minnesota, who was remembered by his family and community as a devoted father, grandfather and friend after his death in October 2026 at the age of 79. He was not a public figure in the…
Paul H. Walder was a Vietnam War veteran and longtime truck driver from Blue Earth, Minnesota, who was remembered by his family and community as a devoted father, grandfather and friend after his death in October 2026 at the age of 79. He was not a public figure in the sense of fame or celebrity, but his life followed a pattern familiar to many rural Minnesotans of his generation: military service in his late teens, a long working career, and decades of family life, and his passing was marked with the full honors due a veteran.
Walder was born on August 27, 1947, in Blue Earth, Minnesota, to Hugh and Carie (Urness) Walder. As a young man he entered the United States Army, serving from 1966 to 1969 during the Vietnam War. After completing his military service he returned to Minnesota and built a career as a truck driver, a job he held for more than 42 years.
On November 1, 1974, he married Judy Charlson in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The couple raised three children together, Zachary, Brandy and Tony, and in later years Walder took particular pleasure in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family and friends recalled that he enjoyed simple, steady pleasures: watching television, going out for breakfast, visiting with friends, reading, attending the state fair, spending time outdoors, and caring for his two dogs, Otto and Diesel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by his sister Kathy Challgren, and by his wife Judy, who died in 2024.
Paul H. Walder died on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota, at the age of 79. No cause of death has been made public. His death was announced through an obituary placed by his family with Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. He is survived by his children, Zachary (Laura) Walder of Sartell, Brandy Walder of Sartell, and Tony (Caprice) Walder of Ponder, Texas, along with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Because of his Army service during the Vietnam War, Walder was laid to rest with military honors at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls, a resting place reserved for veterans and their families. His funeral service was held there, giving his community and loved ones a formal opportunity to say goodbye to a man whose life, while not lived in the public eye, touched many through decades of steady work and quiet devotion to family.
Biography adapted from News reports and the sources cited on this page; death reported by WJON.
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1by People Forever
my dad drove for 30 and the stories he has, it's a different world