Jeffrey Scott Wadell

         Jeffrey “Jeff” Scott Wadell, age 53, formerly of Elsie, Michigan, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025, at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
        Jeff Wadell was a GOOD man. His positivity in the face of suffering was inspiring.
        Jeff was born in Lansing, Michigan, on December 28, 1971, the son of Charles Arthur and Gail Marie (Harte) Wadell. He attended high school in St. Johns, Michigan, where he excelled academically and played football, baseball, and trombone before going on to Western Michigan University, where he studied to become an Electrical Engineer while also earning his pilot’s license. It was while working in Dearborn, Michigan, as an engineer that Jeff decided to shoot for his dream of flying in the Air Force and left for San Antonio, Texas, for pilot training.
        Life then threw him an unexpected challenge, as it often does, and within a short time, Jeff got the call that his Dad and the farm needed him. He dropped everything to go back home to Elsie, Michigan, and farming. In Jeff’s words— “I didn’t want the farm. I wanted to work with my Dad and I never regretted that decision.” So began Jeff, learning to love farming, working with the cows, and driving tractors (because who doesn’t love driving tractors?. Over time, Jeff steadily built the farm into even greater success, which often meant more land, more cows and more responsibility. But Jeff was also more than a farmer and found the time to enjoy golfing, skiing, Jeeping, basketball, jet skiing and kayaking.
       On November 20, 2010, Jeff married the love of his life, the best thing that ever happened to him, and the writer of this obituary, Amy Patin. Together they worked, traveled, sky dived, cheered on MSU, and lived their lives for 6 years before the biggest unexpected challenge life could throw at Jeff occurred—a devastating and mysterious illness that took his mobility and vision. Did that stop Jeff? No. He continued to manage the farm while we searched for answers and never, ever gave up hope. The third unexpected challenge forced even more changes, including a ventilator and no longer being able to manage the farm. But that still didn’t diminish Jeff’s hope. Every day was a conversation about getting better and what we’d do next when he got back on his feet. For almost 8 ½ years Jeff fought to keep going until the battle his body was fighting couldn’t be won. And now he rests.
        He is survived by his wife Amy Wadell, mother Gail Wadell, siblings: Douglas (Karie) Wadell, Michelle (James) Socha, Melissa (Scott) Smith, father and mother-in-law Donald & Maureen Patin, brothers and sisters-in-law: Jeffrey & Cynthia Patin, Theodore & Jill Patin, and Nicholas & Rebecca Patin. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Charles Wadell and his grandparents: Harry & Mary Wadell, Neil & Jean Harte.
       Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, Michigan, at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, from 3-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan. A Rosary will be prayed at 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
      Memorials may be made to the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.