Elmer Jabs

With both sorrow and deep gratitude for a life well lived, we announce the passing of Elmer Gustave Jabs, who went home to be with his Lord on March 27, 2026, at the age of 95.

NEW SERVICE TIMES - A visitation for Elmer will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 104 First Street West, Jordan. A Christian Funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM with an additional visitation from 10:00 - 10:45 AM, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 20200 Fairlawn Avenue, Prior Lake. Rev. Dr. Brent Parrish will preside. He will be laid to rest at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Elmer was born on March 6, 1931, and grew up on a farm in the river bottoms near Jordan, Minnesota. The family farmstead, now recognized as a historical landmark, was part of the Louisville Swamp—land that today belongs to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Life on the farm in those days looked very different from what it does today. While we move with cars powered by electricity and high speed everything, Elmer grew up in a time when horses powered the equipment and set the pace of daily life. It was a slower time in some ways, but one that required strength, patience, and resilience—qualities that would define him for the rest of his life.

Elmer attended school at Dooleyville School and completed his formal education through the eighth grade. But anyone who knew him understood that his knowledge, life experience, and ability to fix or build just about anything could have earned him a master’s degree. Long before the name existed, he was, in every sense of the word, a real-life MacGyver.

On May 15, 1952, Elmer was inducted into the United States Army. After an abbreviated basic training, he was deployed to serve in the Korean War. He served faithfully and honorably, and at one point came within seconds of losing his life when an artillery shell struck his unit’s mess tent—the area where soldiers gathered to eat. Elmer had just returned from transporting his company commander to a meeting and was on his way to the tent when it was hit. He lost several friends that day, a reminder of both the cost of war and the fragility of life.

Throughout his time in service, however, there was one thing Elmer never failed to do—write letters to his future wife, Grace Minge. What began as friendly correspondence between two people who already had an eye for each other undoubtedly grew deeper over time. One can only imagine how those letters changed along the way, and how special it would be to read them today.

Although Elmer served one tour of duty, he was offered a promotion to motor pool sergeant. True to his character, he declined—not because he could not handle the responsibility, but because he valued his relationships with his fellow soldiers and wanted to remain one of them. During his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Upon completing his service on May 4, 1954, Elmer returned home to Louisville Township, located between Shakopee and Jordan, Minnesota. They say he served with determination during the war—but anyone who knew him knows his greatest mission came afterward: pursuing Grace.

And unlike war, this was one battle he was more than happy to surrender to.

On February 11, 1956, Elmer Gustave Jabs and Grace Alice Minge were united in marriage, beginning a life centered on faith, family, and partnership. Together they raised six children, three boys and three girls.

Starting a farm was not easy. Elmer borrowed money to begin his life’s work, and day in and day out, he and Grace labored to make it succeed. Money was tight, and in addition to farming, Elmer worked full-time jobs to support his family—an example of determination, sacrifice, and unwavering responsibility.

He worked alongside his father-in-law laying tile and later spent many years at Belle Plaine Block and Tile. It was during this time that he suffered a back injury that required surgery—yet even that did not deter him from his commitment to providing for his family.

He later went on to work at Rosemount Inc., where he designed a tool that saved the company millions of dollars. Though he did not receive financial reward for the invention, he took great pride in the recognition he was given—because for him, it was never about money. It was about doing the job well.

Elmer never wavered in his commitment to his family or his work. After retiring from Rosemount, he was finally able to devote more of his time to the farm and to Grace. In those years, they found joy not only in their work, but in the simple pleasures of life together.

One of those joys began somewhat unexpectedly. What started as something Elmer simply went along with—because Grace enjoyed it—eventually became something he truly embraced: garage sales. Over time, he developed an eye for items he could repair, improve, or repurpose, often turning them into something valuable. What began as a hobby grew into something much bigger.

Each year, Elmer and Grace hosted a large garage sale, filling their two machine sheds with items and drawing people from miles around. Cars would line the lawn as visitors came to browse. If it had been possible, their garage sales might well have become a local holiday. And when the sales were over, the next step was obvious, they needed to restock. That meant heading out together to local garage sales and auctions, always on the lookout for the next find.

But it was never really about the money. What they truly enjoyed was the time spent together.

Bingo was another favorite pastime for Elmer and Grace. While they certainly enjoyed winning, what mattered most was simply being side by side, sharing the experience and the moment.

And then there were the Christmas lights.

Each year, Elmer transformed the farm into a display that could only be described as a spectacle. The barn, the trees, everything was lit. It became something people would come from miles around to see. There was even a running joke that the telephone pole in the yard needed extra support cables to keep it from being pulled out of the ground when all the lights were turned on and the electric meter started spinning.

At the center of it all was a large, handmade sign that Elmer created, shining brightly with the message:

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

The display was never about recognition, though it was often awarded for its brilliance. It was about sharing his faith and reminding others of the true meaning of Christmas.

Elmer and Grace also enjoyed traveling together. While they were not frequent travelers, they made meaningful trips—especially to Branson, Missouri, to see some of their favorite performers, and to visit family in places such as Florida, Kansas, and even Hawaii.

Family was always at the center of his life. Alan and Marlan eventually built homes on land purchased from Elmer and Grace, and Elmer played a major role in helping not only them, but many of his children, build their first homes. His skills seemed limitless—if something needed to be built, fixed, or figured out, Elmer was the one who could do it.

A devoted member of Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elmer lived a life grounded in faith. He prayed faithfully each night and attended church regularly. His faith was not something he spoke loudly about, but something he lived—through humility, kindness, and a willingness to put others before himself.

He was never a materialistic man. Instead, he found joy in simple family gatherings, conversation, and moments spent together. And for those who knew him well, there was also a special side of Elmer not everyone saw—his sense of humor. It wasn’t constant, but when it appeared, it was perfectly timed and unforgettable.

In his later years, something special happened. The relationships he had with his children deepened into something even more meaningful—true friendship. Visits became less about catching up and more about simply enjoying time together. And in his own quiet way, he had a way of making each of them feel close to him—often with a simple greeting, sometimes as familiar as “Hiya buddy,” that made those moments even more special.

Elmer was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Grace A. Jabs, and his son, Marlan L. Jabs. Parents, Martha and Rudolph Jabs; brothers, Emil, Julius, Arnold, and sister Adeline.

He is survived by his children, Alan, (Marie), Yvonne, Barbara, (RJ), Leon, (Linh), and Charlanne; grandchildren, Chris, Cassie, Brandon, and Brianna (Alan Jabs’ children), Holly, Tara, Nicholas, Kelsey, Angie and James (Marlan Jabs’ children), Elizabeth, and Danielle (Yvonne Jabs’ children), Miquette, Bobbi, and Jon (Barbara [Jabs] Ahrens children), Ryan and Amber (Leon Jabs’ children), Rebecca, Rachel, Alex, Devin, and Zach (Charlanne Jabs’ children); 26 great-grandchildren; along with extended family and all who were blessed to know him.

Elmer has now made one final journey—to heaven.

And if you were to say goodbye to him, he would likely respond in his own way:

“No, it’s not goodbye… It’s ‘I’ll see you later.’”

And so, Dad… we will see you later.

We love you.