LeRoy “Babe” Alton Jameson, 84, of Hartland passed into eternal life Monday, August 18, 2014 surrounded by family at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 22, 2014 at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Center. Father Raul Silva will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 4 until 7 PM at the Friedrichs Funeral Home in New Richland, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Babe was born July 21, 1930 to Roy and Esther (Pope) Jameson in Le Center, MN, where he also grew up. Babe spent his childhood setting pins in the bowling alley his father owned. Not wanting this to be his future career, Babe joined the Army in 1949. During his three years in the service, Babe attained the rank of Sergeant and pitched for the Army’s “Guided Missile” baseball team.After Babe left the Army, he played baseball for the Le Center Cubs and Chiefs and worked for the Creamery in Le Center. On October 6, 1955 he married Therese Traxler of Le Center, with whom he raised five children. The family relocated in 1963, when Babe was offered the manager job at the GTA elevator in Hartland MN. He worked there for 31 years until his retirement.
An avid sportsman, Babe hunted mule deer in Montana and took many fishing trips to Canada with Hartland friends Gary Hanson, Dean Knutson, Virgil Thofson, Rudy Phillips, and Marlin Schroader, among others. Babe also spent many summer days fishing at his cabin on German Lake, which was given to him by his sister, Ollie.
Babe was also an avid golfer, serving as Board Member for seven years at Oak View Golf Course in Freeborn. He golfed every Tuesday with Gary, Dean and Burt McKean, even scoring a hole-in-one on August 7, 1994. The foursome ended their evenings playing Ginny Gin Gin and Euchre. Babe spent his last few years playing golf with the seniors on Thursdays at the golf course in New Richland. Babe was a member of the American Legion for over 60 years, and Babe and Therese were also long-time members of All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland.
Babe is survived by his wife Therese of Hartland; son Kris (Gean) Jameson of Waseca; daughters Kari Kuball of Waseca, Kimberly Jameson of Hartland, and Karla (Zach) Thennes of Madison, WI; grandchildren Tarin Kuball, Kristal Jameson, Adam Kuball, Randi Richie, Jake Jenkins, Ellarose and Emmablu Jameson, Jack, Cole, and Julia Thennes; and great-grandson Trent Kuball.
He was preceded in death by his son Kevin in 1972; sisters Ollie Cook, Phyllis Ethridge, and Dallas Oldenborg; and brother Tom Jameson.