Dr. Ronald James Jakubiak of East Lansing, MI, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Madison, WI. Ronald was born May 5, 1941, in Bay City, MI, the son of John and Marie (Sczurzak) Jakubiak. A talented baseball player, Ronald considered a career as a professional pitcher prior to changing course and pursuing neurosurgery.
Ronald’s undergraduate training was completed at the University of Michigan, and he earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his neurological surgical training at the University of Michigan. Ronald established a neurosurgery practice in the Greater Lansing area with his brother, neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul J. Jakubiak, and practiced in the Lansing area for over 40 years. He was responsible for establishing the first Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit for the treatment of neurosurgical disease in the area. Ronald was also a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Michigan State University and served as Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery at Sparrow Hospital, St. Lawrence Hospital, and Ingham Regional Hospital throughout his years of practice. He received multiple research grants while at the University of Michigan and authored groundbreaking articles on neurosurgery and related treatments. Throughout his career, Ronald continued his education with specialized neurosurgery training at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Chicago.
Ronald was listed in the national publication of "Best Doctors in America" and recognized as one of “America’s Top Surgeons” for Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery in 2002. He was also a dear friend of the Sparrow Foundation, recognized at the Ambassador level in the Sparrow Philanthropists League. In 2011, Ronald and an anonymous donor established The Drs. Paul and Ronald Jakubiak Neurosurgery Endowment to support neurosurgery services at Sparrow Hospital. Throughout the past decade, this endowment has graciously funded equipment, technology, research, programs, and more that will continue to make an impact on countless lives well into the future.
Ronald will be remembered as a passionate surgeon devoted to his patients and their care. In his retirement years, he was a voracious reader, baseball fan, and music enthusiast and loved traveling to visit his family throughout the U.S. and Europe. He also enjoyed keeping up with current events and cheering for both the UofM Wolverines and the MSU Spartans in football and basketball.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dr. Paul (Mary) Jakubiak. He is survived by his daughters Stephanie (Ole) Obermann of London, UK, and Megan Jakubiak of Madison, WI; his five grandchildren Robert Charles, Lakin Marie, Jack Travers Ronald, Alexander Wolfe, and Aro James; brothers Mark (Dee) Jakubiak of Kewadin, MI, and Brian (Debra) Jakubiak of Las Vegas, NV; cousins Mary Hackett of Bath, MI, Karen (Jim) Barrow of Naples, FL, and Robert (Faith) Hackett of Naples, FL; nieces Linsey (Dan) Gazdik of Columbus, OH, Betsey Jakubiak of Columbus, OH, and Susan Jakubiak of Chicago, IL, and nephew, Christian Paul Jakubiak of Chicago, IL.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, June 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing with Fr. Gordon Reigle presiding and Fr. Bill Murphy, S.J. concelebrating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until service time and a reception at the church will follow. A private family interment will be held in Battle Creek, MI. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dr. Jakubiak’s memory be made to The Drs. Paul and Ronald Jakubiak Neurosurgery Endowment at Sparrow Hospital by visiting sparrowfoundation.org/give or calling (517-364-3620) or in Dr. Ronald Jakubiak’s name to the Michigan Neuroscience Institute Innovative Research Investment Fund at the University of Michigan by visiting victors.us/ronaldjakubiak (734-764-6777). Donations may also be mailed by check to the University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine Office of Development, 777 E Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
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