Louis Charles Sudheimer passed away on August 31, 2025 in Saint Paul, Minnesota at the age of 86. He was a life-long resident, and proud champion, of the capital city.

Lou will be best remembered for his resilience and indomitable optimism, his preservation work with Old Town Restoration and the Ramsey Hill Association, the saving and restoring of many historic homes and buildings in Ramsey Hill and throughout St Paul, his service in the United States Air Force, his real estate company Historic Hill Homes Realty, and for always bringing at least two pies to holiday dinners. 

He was a great conversationalist, an idealist, a fun uncle, and an attentive grandfather, coming to birthdays and graduations, games and races, band performances, as well as school plays in both French and German, for his language-immersion-school grandchildren. He will be remembered fondly by many, especially those he inspired, or to whom he lent a hand.

Lou was born September 28, 1938 in Saint Paul, he was the loving son of Rudolph E. Sudheimer and Lenore O. Sudheimer (Carlson). Rudy and Lenore were loving parents and doting grandparents, and they, along with his younger brother Hayne, stood by Lou through thick and thin.

Lou was a graduate of St Paul Central High School (1956), and member of “C” Club (lettered in swimming). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Minnesota (1960).

After college, Lou spent four years (1960-1964) as a U.S. Air Force officer, with management assignments in Oregon, France, and India. He was proud of his service in the Air Force, and told stories of being stationed in Oregon during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In recent years, he was nearly always to seen wearing his Air Force cap. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. During this period, and for approximately one year after his honorable discharge, he traveled extensively and worked in Europe, where he developed an interest in historic architecture, as well as fluency in French and German.

He joined Conwed Corporation, also known Wood Conversion Company, from 1965 to 1975, as the division national product manager, responsible for marketing and new product development for their French, English, and German markets. Once back in the U.S., Lou and Pam purchased and restored a 1903 home in Ramsey Hill. In 1975, he left Conwed to pursue his interest in historic restoration full-time.

Lou became a part of a growing “Back to City” movement of the 1970s, an urban preservation movement in which residents bought and rehabbed historic housing, with a community-building focus. Much of his work during the 1970s, 1980s, and into the 1990s was centered on Ramsey Hill and nearby historic neighborhoods.  He was part of the creation of Old Town Restorations, Inc., a pioneering preservation and development organization in Saint Paul. With Old Town, Lou was part of the development team that rehabilitated the Laurel Avenue apartment building that was the birthplace of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Lou was also part of the team that started the Ramsey Hill House Tour. The tour’s purpose was to show off the beauty of the city’s historic architecture, and encourage more people to leave the suburbs for life in the city. Lou founded and was the active principal in Historic Hill Homes Realty, a real estate brokerage company specializing in turn-of-the-century, real estate sales, development and renovations. A particular focus was the renovation and conversion of historic apartment properties into condominiums. He was part of many successful renovation projects including: Vienna Flats, Laurel Flats, the Phoenix, and Saint Albans Court. A photo of Lou and Pam taken in the doorway of the St Albans Court Condominiums is even featured in a book on the urban preservation movement,  Return to City (Reed, Richard, 1979).

Like the Victorian architecture he loved, Lou was adaptable and resilient. After the real estate crisis of 2008, Lou pivoted and added solar energy to his repertoire. He became a consultant for Innovative Power Systems, a pioneering Minnesota renewable energy installer, specializing in solar energy. He was consultant to the board of directors of MnSEIA (2008 to 2016), and worked on educating our state legislators on various solar energy matters pertaining to pending renewable energy legislation. 

Lou continued to own and operate Historic Hill Homes Realty, and around 2008, he began to focus his attentions on another St Paul historic neighborhood, Dayton’s Bluff.  Lou saw the beauty of the historic architecture, and had the vision and desire to help revitalize Dayton’s Bluff. Lou was the building owner of 345 Maria and an integral part of the early days of the Strip Club Restaurant (2008-2017), a steak-focused eatery with a cheeky name, that was a leading force of an East Side foodie renaissance. Aspects of the unique decor of the Strip Club, including the shiny black millwork and its iconic Victorian spiral staircase and false fireplace with an office behind it, were all Lou.  The spiral staircase can still be climbed, the space is now Yeorg Beer and Saloon.  Lou was still working full time up until his death. Lou lived for his work.

Former Toastmaster, Eagle Scout, and past Vice President of the Pine Bend Scout Club, an honorary adult Eagle Scout organization that undertakes volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America. He was a charter member and past Vice President of the Uptown Lions Club. Active in various neighborhood associations, including the Ramsey Hill Association and Old Town Restorations, which helped found and solidify the historic preservation movement in Ramsey Hill in the 1970s.

Lou was married twice in his life, first to Pamela (Larson) of Stillwater, from 1966 to 1979. His two daughters are from that marriage. The early years of that marriage were happy, with travel around the world, skiing and dinner parties, the first Ramsey Hill House Tour, and a year living in Germany.

Lou remarried after the divorce, to Margaret Lynden, and was stepfather to John and Joan. While that marriage also ended with divorce, it, too, had many joyous moments during the decades it endured.

Lou was a lifelong Christian. Growing up, his family attended St Paul Reformation Lutheran Church. Lou believed in the forgiveness of God and the love of Jesus.

Preceded in death by parents Rudy and Lenore, Lou is survived by brother Hayne Sudheimer (Carol) of Hudson, WI; two daughters Lara Duddingston and Sonja Mason (Jonathan), both of St Paul; and six grandchildren: Conrad, Cameron, Calvin and Eleanor Duddingston; and Maude and Owen Mason.  Louis is also survived by his two stepchildren, John Lynden and Joan Dolphin, and their families. He will be remembered by a large assemblage of nieces and nephews, cousins, many friends, and complicated modern families.

Lou found friends easily, and touched many. Special thanks are due to Dr. Fatima Khan, Nurse Practitioner Cassidy, and the whole amazing team at Allina Health Cancer Institute.

Join us in a Celebration of Life on Sunday, September 28, 2025 2-5pm at the University Club of St Paul, 420 Summit Avenue, St Paul MN. The celebration will start at 2PM, with the program starting at 3PM. It would have been his 87th birthday.

Burial Services will be held Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, with full military honors. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that Memorial Contributions be made to Rethos. (Walnut St. Stairway Restorations in the memo line.) 75 West 5th Street, Fifth Floor South Saint Paul, MN 55102, or to an historic preservation charity of your choice.