James Ralph Baumann, age 73, passed away peacefully on February 18 after a 16 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Jim was born in New Ulm, Minnesota on December 20, 1949 to Lucy (Vetter) and Ralph Baumann. He was soon joined by siblings; Charles, Richard, and Jane. Jim grew up on his parents’ farm near Hanska, learning the value of hard work and a deep love for farming and the land. He graduated from New Ulm High School and Mankato State University with a degree in accounting. Jim and Judy met at MSU and married in Marshall on a hot day in July 1974.
For a time, Jim and Judy lived in Hastings and Jim drove to Minneapolis every day to work as an accountant, never forgetting his true passion for farming. In 1995, Jim and Judy realized their dream when they moved to their farm north of Miesville. Until the end, Jim was happiest talking about his plans for the spring, how the crops were looking, or the price of corn.
Jim is survived by his wife, Judy (Skaug) Baumann; children, Suzanne Baumann (Robert Morin) of White Bear Lake, Gina (Cody) Tusberg of Hastings, and Michael (Molly) Baumann of Sisters, Oregon. The lights of his life were his grandchildren, Stella (3) and August (1) Morin; Summer (10), Laine (8), Riggs (5), Crew (3), and Dawson (3) Tusberg; and Sawyer (8) and Bridger (6) Baumann.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:00 pm at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion Street in Hastings. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Miesville, where he will be intered.
Jim’s family is endlessly thankful for the many neurologists, nurses, and care staff who’ve supported us on this journey. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research (give.michaeljfox.org).