Fr. Ronald J. LeJeune, 74, of Reynoldsburg, OH passed away on May 5, 2019 at his home. He was born on January 1, 1945 in Fremont, OH the son of the late Robert J. and Beatrice (Happe) LeJeune.
Ron graduated High School and received his B.A. in Theology from the Pontifical College Josephinum College in Worthington, OH. He then received his Master’s in Spanish from the University of Mexico in Mexico City. Fr. Ron was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on April 3, 1971. He served the following parishes, throughout his forty years as a full-time priest, St. Mary’s, Leipsic, OH, St. Mary’s, Tiffin, OH, Our Lady of Lourdes, Genoa, OH, St. Joseph, Fremont, OH, Holy Trinity, Bucyrus, OH and St. Joseph, Galion, OH. He also spent several years teaching at Holy Spirit Seminary in Toledo, OH. Fr. Ron retired in 2011 and spent his retired years in Mexico.
Ron was an avid Ohio State University football fan. He led many prayer sessions prior to the home games when Woody Hayes was coaching. Through his many years of involvement with OSU he was able to host many father and son breakfasts with OSU Alumni at various parishes that he served. Ron was also a member of the Browns Backers. He loved cooking and his recipes were published in several cook books.
Ron is survived by his siblings, Linda (Tim) Payette, Columbus, OH, Richard (Deborah) LeJeune and Rex (Barbara) LeJeune both of Fremont, OH; nephews, Joe and Jeff Payette; niece, Michele Mong and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation: Saturday, May 11, 2019 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall, 709 Croghan St., Fremont, OH.
Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the church with Bishop Daniel Thomas as the principal celebrant.
Burial will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery, Fremont, OH.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fremont, Our Lady of Lourdes, Genoa or Holy Trinity, Bucyrus.
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Dennis and Kathy VanWey
Peace be with you Father Ron. You helped many, many people through your ministries.
Bishop Bob Baker
Fr. Ron was a good friend from our seminary days at the Josephinum in the 1960’s. We continued to stay in touch through the years, exchanging Christmas cards each year, even during his days in Mexico… I regret missing the funeral Mass, but as Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama, I will preside over a graduation celebration in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that day. I will offer holy Mass for him in Birmingham. Prayers and condolences to his dear family…+Bob Baker
Lanny Hollis
Fr. Ron taught me Spanish III and IV at Holy Spirit Seminary High School (1974-1976) and was a constant source of counsel and support during high school. He took (we drove) me and another student to Mexico City for the summer after my high school graduation where we (the other student and I) lived with a family learning more Spanish (they are still dear friends today after 43 years). I wrote him a long time ago that he was one of the most formative individuals in my entire life (I have an MA in Spanish, was a Spanish (and other areas) teacher, and am a lover of all things Hispanic due mainly to him). Please, God, take him to your Sacred Heart.
Dr. Lanny (“el grandote”) Hollis
Headmaster, St. John Paul II Catholic High School, Huntsville, Alabama
Becky and Walt Stauffer
We will miss Father Ron very much. We would have liked to see him one more time since he came back. We will never forget his laugh, and his delicious lunches he would fix for Becky while she was his secretary at Holy Trinity. He was a precious soul.
Maria G. Solis
Our condolences to the Father Lejeune family. Will remember the beautiful memories we share.
Todd Axelrod
Prayers for Ron and the family
Herminia Guitron
My condolences, he was the best priest I have ever known and missed him very much when he left our parish. He will be greatly missed
Jeffrey Payette
The world has lost one of the greatest. I am happy, blessed and proud to have called him my Uncle. Never an event in my life went by of which he wasn’t present. He was more than my Uncle. He was a mentor that helped to groom me for who I have become today. He taught me the importance of education, faith, athletics and most importantly how to just be a good person and live a good life. Uncle Ron you served your life well. I will miss the many laughs and talks we shared. I look forward to that next croquet game or golf outing we will have one day. I love you and Rest In Peace, you have earned it. Your nephew -Jeff
Anne Marquis
Many happy memories of you days here at St. Joseph, Fremont. Rest in Peace, Father Ron.
Patricia N. Rawls
Rest with God , Father Ron.
Pat Norton Rawls
Amy Le Jeune Feasel
Rest peacefully Cousin. You were always kind and full of life. I have fond memories of you as a young man and as a priest. You will be missed.
Jan (Halbisen) Falsetti
Rest In Peace Father Ron
Dave, Ann and Nancy
We are sorry to hear of the passing of Father Ron. He has gone through Heaven’s Gates. Although he will be greatly missed here,he is forever in a wonderful place.
Thoughts and prayers from the Jim and Wilma LeJeune family.
Dave LeJeune, Ann Homan, Nancy Randall and their families.
Unfortunately we will not make it to Fremont for the services because one of us is moving
Saturday.
Natalie Call
Nothing but great childhood memories from St. Mary’s Catholic school . You were an understanding priest and inspirational to us and our family . Rest In Peace as you enter the house t of the Lord !
My condolences to the family.
Natalie Call Solis
Chantelle Blackburn
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Father Ron. He was a kind and down to earth person, who enjoyed life to the fullest and loved the Lord and His Church deeply. I got to know Father when he began coming to Marion St. Mary Church to celebrate our Spanish Masses. He loved the Spanish speaking congregation and enjoyed taking part in our fiestas. We were so grateful to be blessed by his ministry. He will truly be missed by all those whose lives he touched. I am so glad to have known this wonderful man of God.
Kathleen Bounds
My sincere sympathy to the Lejeune family. My late husband, Jim, was a friend and neighbor of the Lejeune family in Fremont. Father Ron baptized our first daughter,Natalie. So sorry I won’t be able to attend the service. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Larry and Kathy Stinchcomb
Our deepest sympathy to all Fathers family . Our thoughts and prayers be with you during this sad time . May the perpetual light always shine on Father Lejeune always and may he rest in peace . God Bless !
Nancy Burkin and Caleb Connors
Rex and Barb, we are so sorry for your family’s loss. He will be a wonderful guardian angel for your family.
Pat Frederick
My condolance to the family of Father LeJune. Peace be with you. From an old neibhor on Rosevelt St. Pat Frederick, Debbie and Dan
Betty Bergman-Jones
My sympathy to you on Father Ron’s passing. He made life so interesting at St. Mary’s for a Protestant teacher at St. Mary’s School. I remember some of our visits with great fondness. Rest in peace good and faithful servant.
Lanny Hollis
Fr. Ron taught me Spanish III and IV at Holy Spirit Seminary High School (1974-1976) and was a constant source of counsel and support during high school. He took (we drove) me and another student to Mexico City for the summer after my high school graduation where we (the other student and I) lived with a family learning more Spanish (they are still dear friends today after 43 years). I wrote him a long time ago that he was one of the most formative individuals in my entire life (I have an MA in Spanish, was a Spanish (and other areas) teacher, and am a lover of all things Hispanic due mainly to him). Please, God, take him to your Sacred Heart. Tu cuate, Leonardo
Dr. Lanny (“el grandote”) Hollis
Headmaster, St. John Paul II Catholic High School, Huntsville, Alabama
Joan & Denny Schroeder
To the family of Fr. Ron LeJeune…..
Please accept our sincere sympathy at the passing of your dear brother, Fr. Ron LeJeune.
Fr. Ron was an assistant priest in our parish, St. Mary’s Leipsic in the early 1970’s. After his assignment in Leipsic, he was assigned to Holy Spirit seminary. We were a young couple when he ministered in our parish. We were married at St. Mary’s church in Leipsic on August 2, 1975. Fr. Ron was already assigned to HS Seminary at that time. Our parish priest already had a wedding for August 2, and told us we would have to find another priest to marry us. We contacted Fr. Ron, who officiated at our wedding Mass. We have a nice photo of Fr. Ron with us on our wedding day. We ran into Fr. Ron a couple of times throughout the years. We have fond memories of him as the assistant pastor of our parish. We have been married for 43 years now and are still current members of St. Mary’s parish. May Fr. Ron Rest In Peace. Amen. Sincerely, Joan and Denny Schroeder, 6250 CR 16, McComb, OH. 45858
Fr. Dick Notter
Ron was a good friend and companion in Hispanic ministry both here and in Mexico.
I had the pleasure of spending a week at his home in Cuernavaca where he wined and dined me.
I feel really sad that I could not be there for his funeral as I am currently carrying out some commitments in Texas
Please know that he and the family are in my prayers
Dawn Fahsholtz
We were saddened to recently find out about Fr. Ron’s passing. My husband Chuck & I met Fr. Ron’s mom while we all lived in the same Fremont apartment complex. She introduced us to Fr. Ron who coordinated the Genoa RCIA program so my husband could convert to Catholicism. Fr. Ron even made arrangements to go to Mexico City so he could marry us in 1989! We send our sympathies to his family members at this difficult time. Chuck & I were just talking about Fr. Ron recently so were shocked when we were told of his passing. He was a great person and will be missed! RIP Fr. Ron!