James Ulland

James Edward Ulland
Jim Ulland, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend and gifted lawmaker, educator, entrepreneur, mentor and adviser, died November 29 in the embrace of his family. Jim, 82, continued to live an intentional and active life even after a cancer diagnosis just over one year ago.
Born to Oscar and Charlotte (Mattson) Ulland in Duluth, Jim was shaped by his family, his community and the nature that surrounded him. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and, as a boy, would go door-to-door selling the herring caught by North Shore relatives-his first but not his last entrepreneurial effort.
A graduate of Duluth East High School, he received a B.A. in economics from Carleton College and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance, where he was on the Dean's List.
While living on and running a tree farm, teaching corporate finance at the University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Business and Economics and coaching college hockey, Jim was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at 27, representing St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties from 1969 to 1976. Jim was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1976, where he ultimately served as minority leader during his nine-year tenure. As a lawmaker, he was known for his intelligence, quick wit, good sense of humor and ability to connect with others on both sides of the aisle. He was passionate about his commitment to the environment, individual freedoms, energy and housing and business growth.
Jim left elective office in 1985 to become a senior vice president for First Bank Systems and, later, was tapped by Governor Arne Carlson to become Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. After a short stint with a private investment firm, in 1997 Jim founded Ulland Investment Advisors: a boutique investment advisory firm.
Jim married Kristin Royer in 1994 becoming a proud and active father to Olivia and Matias. Jim always supported their children's academic and artistic endeavors. Annual vacations to the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas became a family tradition, where they spent time spearfishing and exploring for over 30 years. Jim and Kris were avid supporters of the arts locally and beyond, and enjoyed multiple trips to the Sundance Film Festival, New York City and Europe. They were active hikers and visited local parks wherever they traveled.
Jim also was a gifted athlete throughout his life; in addition to being a hockey goalie, he was a competitive runner who maintained a passion for long runs and, later, competed against himself on his well-used Peloton machine.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Charlotte; his sister Mary Perabo, who passed 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 and 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; AFS brother Klaus (Christl) Schuebel of Dusseldorf, Germany.
A celebration of life will be held in June.
Those who desire to honor Jim's life may do so with a donation to Minneapolis Parks Foundation. https://mplsparksfoundation.org/support-parks/donate/