Ronald Erbe

RONALD ERBE

Marion

On the afternoon of Dec. 23, 2014, Ronald George Erbe passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, surrounded by his family and friends.

Ron was born in Monona, Clayton County, Iowa, on Oct. 5, 1946. He was the first child and son of Mary Catherine Geraghty and George Fredrick Erbe.

Ron or Ronnie, as he was called by his close friends and family, will always be remembered for his indomitable sense of humor and his larger than life personality. Born to a strong Irish mother and a fun loving German/Danish father, Ron was raised in the Catholic faith, a faith that remained strong in Ron's life from his first moments among us to his last. Ron grew up just down the hill from St. Patrick Catholic Church and School in Monona. He attended St. Patrick Catholic School through the eighth grade. Ron finished St. Patrick's in 1960 and subsequently attended Monona-Farmersburg-Luana (MFL) High School, graduating in 1964. Besides being a class clown and an honor student, Ron found time to play football and throw shotput on the track team. After finishing high school, Ron attended Central College in Pella on a football scholarship.

In 1969, Ron met the love of his life, and promptly married her on Nov. 18, 1970. On Nov. 19, 1971, while living in Elkader, Ron became the proud father of a daughter, Vanessa (Erbe) Brehm. With his wife, Ron was the proprietor of the Brass Rail in Monona. Ron owned the Brass Rail until 1974, at which that time he moved his family to La Crosse, Wis. While living in La Crosse, Ron again became a father, this time to a son, Gregory Erbe, born Aug. 7, 1975. While living in La Crosse, Ron owned the Office Lounge.

In 1977, Ron moved his family to Davenport, where he owned and operated a baseball card and comic book store. After living in Davenport for six years and in Illinois for three years, in 1986, Ron moved his family to Cedar Rapids, where he remained until his passing. While living in Cedar Rapids, Ron owned a series of successful businesses, with his Marion Coin Shop being the last business he owned.

Throughout his life Ron was a self-made man. When he was 12 years old he got his first job at Evan's Hardware Store in downtown Monona. From that point forward he would go on to start and run many successful businesses during the course of his life. Ron enjoyed the challenge of finding a good investment and the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his labor payoff. He worked hard at each and every endeavor, a proud man who no matter what, made sure his family was taken care of. It was this sense of pride and responsibility in Ron that made him the husband, father, brother, son and friend that everyone knew and loved so well.

Whether interacting with his customers or spending time with his friends or family, those who knew Ron also knew to be on the lookout for his Irish wit. Much like his father before him, Ron enjoyed nothing more in life than pulling someone's leg. Hardly a day went by in Ron's life when he wasn't spinning a yarn to his wife, grandchildren or someone he'd only just met. From one of the infamous practical jokes he played in his formative years to convincing his grandchildren a ghost lived in "grandma and grandpa's" house, the legend of his wit and humor often preceded him.

Besides his family, Ron had many loves in life, including among them cars, animals and his Catholic faith. Ron loved cars and owned many, many cars throughout his life, some ending up a little worse for the wear after a few years of him behind their wheel. Ron never saw a car he did not think he might want to own one day, including the one he never got a chance to buy; a brand new Corvette. Ron also loved animals and went to great lengths to take care of any wildlife preserve from all of the animals munching on the birdseed, corn or his wife's leftovers he had set out for them.

Most of all, Ron loved his faith and always remained steadfast in his Catholic faith that guided the many life lessons he imparted on his children, grandchildren or someone he'd recently met, chief among them to always stand up for yourself, to never be afraid to speak up and last, but definitely not least, the value of a dollar.

In short, Ron was a talented, hardworking, generous human being who always knew how to make you laugh. His loss will be dearly felt but his spirit will carry on in those who knew him.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Catherine and George Frederick Erbe; his boyhood dog, a German Shepard named "King"; and his favorite cat, "Bruiser."

Ron is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Erbe; daughter, Vanessa and her husband, Wayne Brehm; son, Gregory Erbe and his wife, Christina; three grandchildren, Ian, Ethan and Anna Brehm; sister, Connie and her husband, Jim Leete; brother, Dennis Erbe; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy and Jan Ashby; one aunt, Rose Geraghty Dougherty; and many cousins, nieces and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ron's honor may be directed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona. The Rev. Nils Hernandez will be the celebrant. Visitation will be one hour before services at the church on Saturday, Dec. 27. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Monona.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is helping the family with arrangements.