Donald Laub

Donald D. Laub, a long-time Easton-area grape grower and agricultural leader, died on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, from injuries sustained from an on-farm accident on September 30, 2009.

Don was born on July 22, 1933, in Fresno. For most of his 76 years, Don was involved in farming. Upon his father Henry's death in 1943, the nine-year-old Don assisted his mother Anna and twin brother Ronald with keeping the Biola-area family farm going.

Throughout the years, Don continued to farm, eventually building the family farms, Laub Ranches, Inc. and J&L Vineyards, into diversified high-quality grape operations. In 1954, Don married Clara Fogal, and from a 20-acre raisin grape farm in the Biola area, the Laubs expanded the family farm to the Easton area with the purchase of prime vineyard land on Lincoln Avenue, the location of the present-day business. Under Don's direction, Laub Ranches became known for producing premium table grapes, raisins and wine grapes. As part of J&L Vineyards, he became one of the first to embrace and actively use integrated pest management, and was an innovator of trellis design for table grapes. With the fourth generation now engaged in the family business, J&L Vineyards has endured challenges with the tenacity of a truly strong family farm committed to agriculture as a business and as a way-of-life. Until his untimely death, Don actively farmed with his wife and daughters, Debbie and son-in-law Ray Jacobsen, and Diane Tavares.

Don was a well-known and respected leader in local agricultural and Easton community organizations. For more than 50 years, Don was involved with the Fresno County Farm Bureau, having served as the organization's president in 1986-88. He also represented Fresno County on the California Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors, and served on several advisory committees for both the state and national Farm Bureau organizations, focusing mostly on labor, water and public utilities issues. Don received the Distinguished Service Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation in 1996, and both the Laub and Jacobsen families received the Fresno County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award in 1994. That same year, Don was selected as the Fresno County Agriculturalist of the Year. In 2001, J&L Vineyards received the Agricultural Business of the Year Award.

Known for his passion and dedication to agriculture, Don also served on the boards of directors of the Ag One Foundation at Fresno State, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Farm Labor Alliance, the advisory committee for the U.C. Extension Field Station in Parlier, and for several wine industry boards and commissions. In the late-1980s, Don was appointed to serve on the federal Western Region Immigration and Naturalization Service Advisory Committee. He also was appointed to serve on the Big Fresno Fair Board of Directors and the Fresno County Planning Commission. Don also was a member of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Class III.

In addition to his service to agriculture, Don assumed leadership roles in the Easton community, having served as a trustee and president of the American Union Elementary School Board and Washington Union High School Board. He also served as a director of the Fresno County Public Schools Foundation. Don's passion for education was evident in his program to host inner-city school children from Los Angeles and Fresno on his farm to learn more about agriculture during the 1990s.

Don also served in the Biola Congregational Church, and on the boards of Twilight Haven Convalescent Home, Fresno County Civil Service Commission, and Fresno County Affordable Housing Task Force.

The Central Union High School graduate also spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves. He will be remembered for his passion for the issues, dedication to his family and friends, and for his lifetime of service to his industry and community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna Laub, of Fresno.

Don is survived by Clara, his wife of 55 years; daughters, Debbie Jacobsen and son-in-law Ray, Diane Laub Tavares and her husband Stan, and Donna Laub and her companion Rick Cosentino; and son, David Laub and his fiancée Linda Lockman, all of Fresno. Surviving grandchildren include Ryan Jacobsen and his wife Ashley, and Megan Jacobsen, all of Fresno, Brandon Jacobsen, of Las Vegas, Nv., Jason Allred and his wife Beth, of Duluth, Mn., Jared Allred, of Fresno, and Dustin Laub, of Fresno, and three great-grandchildren. Don is also survived by his brother Dr. Ronald L. Laub and his wife Marjorie, of Lockeford, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.

Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Funeral Home, 202 N. Teilman Ave., Fresno, on Sunday, October 25, 2009, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

A Graveside service will be held at Belmont Memorial Park, 201 N Teilman Ave., Fresno, on Monday, October 26, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. A Memorial luncheon will be held immediately following at the C.P.D.E.S. Hall, 172 W. Jefferson Ave., in Easton.

Remembrances may be made to "Fresno ALFA," c-o Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave, Fresno, Ca., 93728, for agricultural education purposes; or "Washington Union High School," c-o Don Laub Ag Scholarship Fund, 6041 S. Elm Ave, Fresno, Ca., 93706.

STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL 202 North Teilman Avenue Fresno, Ca. (559)268-9292