It is with a heavy heart that we share that our friend, former CEO, partner and colleague Jon Theobald passed away on February 13, after a brief illness. Jon was the face and fabric of Mairs & Power well beyond the 15 years he led the firm. He not only played an instrumental role in the success of Mairs & Power but was a major champion for the St. Paul community. He had a keen business sense, left no detail to chance, made you feel at ease and simply lit up the room with his smile and bow tie. Jon joined Mairs & Power in 2002 as the firm was on the cusp of significant growth. George Mairs III saw this growth coming and tapped Jon as Chief Operating Officer to build the structure, the staff and the relationships that are the foundation of Mairs & Power today.
Mark Henneman, CEO and mentee of Jon commented,
“Jon with his keen intellect and thoughtful demeanor, built on the foundation entrusted to him; treasuring the privilege he had to serve clients, colleagues and his community. For me he set ‘the’ example of what it meant to be a true St. Paul leader.”
Jon was named President & CEO in 2012, Chairman and CEO in 2014 and Chairman Emeritus in 2017 upon his retirement.
Jon’s ability to build organizations was matched by his passion for building relationships and bringing people together for the common good. He made a difference in the larger St Paul community through his leadership in many of our most important community organizations: the Hardenbergh Foundation, the Friends of Scouting, Minnesota Independent School Forum (now Minndependent) the F.R Bigelow Foundation, Visitation Convent School, the St Paul Riverfront Corporation and his beloved St John’s University. He is survived by his wife Lea, five children, many grandchildren, numerous family and friends. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this tremendous loss.
A service remembering Jon will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Assumption Catholic Church in downtown St. Paul. The visitation will take place at 9:00 a.m., with a Mass at 10:00 a.m., and a reception to follow at the Town and Country Club. Click Here to view Jon's obituary.
Jon’s presence will be greatly missed by all of us who had the honor of knowing him.