Ronald Duane Debban, 83, from Glenwood City, passed away peacefully at Westfields Hospital in New Richmond on October 30th. He was born on August 6th, 1941 at Ancker Hospital in St. Paul. He was raised in St. Paul and attended grade school before moving to Mora, MN. to finish high school. He enlisted in the US Army in 1960 and was in the 101st Airborne Division training at Fort Campbell, KY.

After training he was stationed in Germany for three years. Upon discharge in 1964, he returned to St. Paul to continue his education. There, he met his future wife, Kay Ann Christianson while she was a nurse at Ancker Hospital. They married in 1965 and son Kurt was born that next year.

During their marriage they lived in the St. Paul and Roseville area while Ron entered the burgeoning computer world – working several years for the TIES Company as Manager of Operations for the MN. School District. In 1980 they moved to Baldwin and bought the New Leaf Nursery and Apple Farm, finally retiring in 2000 in order to build their new home just south of Glenwood City.

Ron had a dear love of reading and would absorb volumes of knowledge from areas of
history, medicine, gardening, wildlife etc.. But it was woodworking that really enabled his innate creative side to flourish. He would turn out exquisite examples of bowls, vases etc. on his lathe. His shop was packed with power woodworking equipment for many other projects and were in use nearly every day.

He is survived by his wife Kay, son Kurt and brothers Dan and Virgil, along with several nephews and nieces.