Jim Ulland, a cherished husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, as well as a talented legislator, educator, entrepreneur, mentor, and advisor, passed away on November 29 surrounded by his family. At the age of 82, Jim remained committed to living a purposeful and vigorous life, even following a cancer diagnosis a little over a year […]
Jim Ulland, a cherished husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, as well as a talented legislator, educator, entrepreneur, mentor, and advisor, passed away on November 29 surrounded by his family. At the age of 82, Jim remained committed to living a purposeful and vigorous life, even following a cancer diagnosis a little over a year ago.
Born to Oscar and Charlotte (Mattson) Ulland in Duluth, Jim’s character was influenced by his family, community, and the natural environment around him. He took pride in his Norwegian heritage and, as a young boy, traveled door-to-door to sell herring caught by relatives from the North Shore—his initial yet not final venture into entrepreneurship.
A proud graduate of Duluth East High School, he earned a B.A. in economics from Carleton College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a place on the Dean’s List.
While he operated a tree farm, taught corporate finance at the University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Business and Economics, and coached college hockey, Jim was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 27, serving the counties of St. Louis, Lake, and Cook from 1969 until 1976. In 1976, he was elected to the Minnesota Senate, where he ultimately took on the role of minority leader during his nine years of service. Renowned for his intelligence, sharp wit, great sense of humor, and ability to connect with colleagues across party lines, Jim was deeply committed to issues involving the environment, personal freedoms, energy, housing, and business development.
Jim stepped away from elected office in 1985 to become a senior vice president at First Bank Systems and was subsequently appointed by Governor Arne Carlson as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. After a brief period with a private investment firm, Jim launched Ulland Investment Advisors in 1997, a specialized investment advisory firm.
In 1994, Jim married Kristin Royer and became a devoted father to Olivia and Matias. He consistently encouraged his children’s academic and artistic pursuits. The family made annual trips to the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, where they enjoyed spearfishing and exploring together for over three decades. Jim and Kris were enthusiastic patrons of the arts both locally and beyond, relishing numerous visits to the Sundance Film Festival, New York City, and Europe. They loved hiking and consistently sought out local parks during their travels.
Throughout his life, Jim was also a talented athlete; in addition to his role as a hockey goalie, he was a competitive runner who sustained his passion for long-distance running, eventually challenging himself on his well-worn Peloton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Charlotte; his sister Mary Perabo, who passed away just nine days before him; niece Kimberlin Ulland; and grand-niece Anna Ulland.
Jim is survived by his wife, Kris; his children Olivia (Farris Hussain) Argañaraz and Matias (Hayley Jones) Argañaraz; brother Bill (Ann Glumac) Ulland along with his children Randy (Jackie) Ulland and Galen Ulland; sister Jana Ulland and her daughter Nora (Tom) Ziburski; brother-in-law George Perabo and his children, Piper (Stephen) Kay, Noah (Meredith) Perabo, and Adam (Victoria Cowie) Perabo; in-laws Henry and Ann Royer; brother-in-law Henry (Cathy) Royer; numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and AFS brother Klaus (Christl) Schuebel of Düsseldorf, Germany.
A life celebration will occur in June.
Those wishing to honor Jim’s memory can make a donation to the Minneapolis Parks Foundation.
https://mplsparksfoundation.org/support-parks/donate/
