Ronald Leo Jaeb

Ronald Leo Jaeb, age 91, of Richfield, Minn., joined his Lord and savior on February 24, 2024.

Ronald (Ron) Jaeb was born July 16, 1932, in Hayfield, Minn., to Victor and Angela Jaeb.  He grew up in Claremont, Minn.  He fondly recalled spending summers with grandparents in Bird Island, where he developed a life-long love of gardening.  He talked often about the strawberry harvest and how they always had fresh tomatoes.

Ron’s early talents were in music and sports. During high school in Claremont, he excelled in band, football, basketball and baseball. 

After high school, Ron attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., where he majored in music, performing with the University Men’s Chorus as pianist. He often did piano duets with his younger brother Tom.  

At St. John’s, he met the love of his life Elizabeth (Betty) Baumler who attended the sister school St. Bennedict’s College.

After college, Ron completed his compulsory military service serving in the Army, at which time he was stationed in Germany.  He showed his aptitude for carpentry, as he put it, when they asked if “anyone could use a hammer” he stepped forward and was designated as the company carpenter.

Upon leaving the Army, Ron married Betty Baumler on August 17, 1957, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Castleton, N. Dak.

The two of them enjoyed life as young high school teachers, moving often and bringing six children into the world in towns across Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. They finally settled down in the village of Granger, Minn., raising their family, continuing their love of life and each other until Betty’s passing in October  1987.

In Granger, Ron began a career in banking with his father, Victor Jaeb as his mentor.  Ron purchased Granger State Bank in the mid-1960s. He was a careful steward of his business.

Ron was an accomplished woodworker, often making furniture for the family home.  He encouraged his sons to learn wood skills as well. He remained active throughout his life.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and flying as a private pilot. 

Music remained a lifelong joy in Ron’s life. He encouraged all his children to learn an instrument.  He played many instruments and the organ at church and was active in the Harmony Community Band.  As kids, we remember him practicing piano at all hours of the night!  He was heard playing piano in his assisted living facility up until the last few weeks of his life. 

Our father was a man of strong faith. 

Ron was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth (Baumler) Jaeb; daughter Stephanie (Jaeb) Maxam, and siblings Robert Jaeb and Mary (Jaeb) Hughes. 

He is survived by his siblings Thomas Jaeb and Jelaine Jaeb, by his five children and their spouses: Maria (Jaeb) Cremer, Jonathan and Margaret Jaeb, Joseph and Marcia Jaeb, Anita (Jaeb) and David Ballard, and Andrew and Pamela Jaeb; along with 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter Catholic church, 6730 Nicollet Ave. in Richfield, Minn., on March 18, 2024, at 11 a.m. Visitation will start in the church entrance at 10 a.m.

Christian burial will be at St. Matthew’s Cemetery on March 19, 2024, in Granger, Minn., at 11 a.m.