James Roland "Jim" UFER

1944 - 2022

May 1, 1944 to July 20, 2022 Jim passed away peacefully at The Pillars Memory Care community in Minneapolis on July 20, at the age of 78. He was born to Roland and Eldred Ufer on May 1, 1944 and was baptized and confirmed in Fairmont, MN. He graduated from White Bear Lake High School, received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and proceeded to serve in the US Army. Jim was fortunate to have a father who showed him the joys of the great outdoors. One of Jim's biggest passions that endured throughout his life was spending time hunting and fishing with family members and friends. Jim's active outdoor lifestyle manifested itself indoors in the form of competitive volleyball. He was instrumental in the creation of the U of MN men's club program, and he would go on to play on several US Volleyball Association "AA" teams, winning championships across the US and Canada. When Jim came out in the early 1990's, he became equally passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and equality for all marginalized groups. Jim's professional life was highlighted in his position as Hennepin County's CFO/Director of Budget and Finance, where he played a key role in the building of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, and half-sister Joanne. He is survived by his sister Jody, beloved niece and nephews Georgeann, John, Jim and Joe, his best friend Lee and many other close friends and relatives. A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 2, with visitation starting at 10:00am, at Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4343 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. Memorials in Jim's name may be made to the Dementia Society of America (PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901; www.dementiasociety.org) or to OutFront Minnesota (2446 University Ave W, Suite 112, St Paul, MN 55114 (www.outfront.org).