Ronald Edwin Youngberg Jr.

Ronald Edwin Youngberg, Jr., 55, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away unexpectedly at home on March 26, 2023. He was born in Chicago, IL, and grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago where he graduated from Carmel High School in Mundelein, IL, in 1985. He attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, before heading west to Arizona in 1988. While in high school, one of his first jobs was working for a local catering company, and upon arrival in Arizona, he started his long career in the food and beverage industry where he made many life-long friends. Over the course of his career, he worked at many different establishments/companies around the Valley as well as in Nevada and California, including Minder Binders, Rockin’ Rodeo, R.T. O’Sullivan’s, Mickey’s Hangout, Iguana Mack’s, Coach & Willie’s, Kona Grill, SOL Mexican Cocina and Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar. Most recently, after a break from the industry during COVID, he was happy to be back doing what he loves with the opportunity at Bourbon and Bones.

Ron’s life-long passion was cooking; he was always trying new recipes or spice rubs or cooking techniques. He could take a taste of something and name what spices were in it or tell you what to add to improve it. In recent years, he added smoking meats and baking to his repertoire, though he still considered the original Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies the best dessert! If you were lucky enough to have Ron cook for you, you knew you were in for a treat. It wasn’t a family birthday celebration without “Ron’s perfect steak,” and his chimichurri sauce was a Christmas specialty. A family tradition was trying to stump Ron each year with a new Christmas cooking tool—he usually won!

Ron was a loyal friend and was always very focused on helping others. During his high school years, he volunteered at the local hospital, and he completed his service project to meet the requirements to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boys Scouts of America. He supported various causes over the years, including volunteering at food pantries, participating in walk-a-thons, and often raising funds for different charities, including various military causes to support our veterans.

Despite living in Arizona since 1988, Ron was a die-hard Chicago sports fan, always rooting for Da Bears, Da Cubs, Da Bulls and Da Blackhawks, though he did enjoy attending a few Phoenix Rising matches with his friends.

Ron is survived by his sisters Carole Youngberg, Paula Webb (James) and Patricia Andrew (William), nieces Kathryn Andrew and Kelly Andrew, and nephew William Andrew Jr., as well as his maternal uncles, aunts and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Ronald and Rosalin Youngberg. Services will be private. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the future. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the many charities Ron supported over the years, including: Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrf.org), Pat Tillman Foundation (www.pattillmanfoundation.org), or St. Mary’s Food Bank (www.firstfoodbank.org). And the next time you’re eating out at a local restaurant, please raise a glass to Ron. Godspeed, Ron.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavencarrtenney.com for the Youngberg family.