Obituary of BARBARA BUDNICK JERMSTAD

At 94 years of age, Barbara Jermstad lived a long and prosperous life. A woman of devout Catholic faith, Barbara was a mother of four children - Kathy, Ronald Jr., Thomas, and David; a grandmother of five - Meredith, Jaime, Meghan, Kyle, and Hannah; and a great-grandmother of six - Gabriel, Abigail, Sage, Juniper, Asher, and John. She passed away in the afternoon of September 22nd, 2021. Barbara was born on February 6th, 1927 as Barbara Thomas Budnick in Superior, Wisconsin, to Thomas J Budnick and Ann Haffey, with two siblings, her brother Thomas and her sister Sally. Her fondest childhood memories were of being pulled in a sleigh in the crisp Wisconsin winter through the snow by her father. Barbara recalled a memory of her brother and sister as bookworms, and her distinct aversion to that. She longed for more - more adventure, more expression, more excitement. And she pursued and created that for herself. A woman of talent, Barbara became an accomplished opera singer and figure skater in her young adulthood. One of her greatest achievements was recording an album with the late great Burl Ives. While enrolled in her collegiate studies, Barbara met Ronald Hudson Jermstad, a handsome naval officer who captured her heart and who affectionately referred to her as ‘Bob’. On December 20th, 1948, Barbara and Ronald joined their lives in marriage at the Cathedral Rectory in Superior, Wisconsin. As a young military family, they spent time stationed around the country and around the world - On August 14, 1950, they welcomed their first child, Kathy, in Jacksonville, Florida. She was followed by her three brothers, Ronald, Jr., born October 26th, 1952, in Springfield, Massachusetts; Thomas, born May 15, 1954, while stationed at Anacostia NAS in Washington, D.C.; and David, born November 27, 1958, in Paris, France. Other stops along the way included the Panama Canal Zone, Bermuda, USNA Annapolis, the Alameda Naval Air Station, and finally Walnut Creek, California, where Ronald retired from the Navy. In 1968, after twenty years of marriage, Barbara and Ronald settled with their children in El Dorado County in the foothills of Northern California, purchasing a home in Camino. Studied in real estate and becoming a licensed Broker, Barbara advised her husband and worked together to form Jermstad Investments, investing in various pieces of real estate across the county to create a family corporation and legacy. They enjoyed traveling together, creating memorable experiences for their family, and enjoying the fruits of their labors. They used to spend winters in Panama City, Florida, where Barbara was known to wake at 3am and walk for miles up and down the beach at dawn, arguably where she found the greatest sense of peace and tranquility. For the last 53 years, Barbara was a regular presence at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Placerville, California. She enjoyed seeing her family grow as her grandchildren grew families of their own and brought forth great-grandchildren. She was a strong willed, independent, and intelligent woman who maintained her home and life well after the passing of her husband in 2017 after 69 years of marriage, and she kept her sharp wit and intellect with her up to her final weeks. With gratitude and love, her family maintains her memory in their hearts with thankfulness for all she helped to bring forth and the legacy she leaves with each. **In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Patrick's Church.**