James Edward Kumpula

James Edward Kumpula Jr.

June 13, 1959 - January 26, 2023

This is kind of a lengthy one, but Jim rambled on and on, so this should be nothing new.

This quote was found saved on Jim’s phone. He must have saved it for a reason.

“We don’t actually fear death, we fear that no one will notice our absence, that we will disappear without a trace.”

— T.S. Eliot

Jim (whom many called Jimmy or Slim) was a kind hearted soul. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2015.

Jim was looking into getting back surgery in 2015. As they were doing blood work, the results revealed that his platelets were the highest his doctor had ever seen. He had myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), a group of blood cancers. After the cancer diagnosis, there were multiple appointments to get the meds right. Once the cancer meds were right, he only had to go to the doctor twice a year. He felt crappy most of the time, but still always pursued life.

Late in the summer of 2022, Jim’s blood cancer was discovered to have a mutation that resulted in an additional cancer. Two cancers. Not really fair, since there are crummy people out in the world that get none. The doctor said to discontinue all meds. One of the meds he took was to control platelet production. His blood was originally producing obscene numbers of platelets, which is not normal. Now his blood wasn’t producing enough.

For one evening, Jim was so excited about life. No more pills that made him nauseous! He planned to get things done around the house. He had plans to eat and eat. This joy was short-lived. He soon had two more very unpleasant bone marrow biopsies. It was decided that he would need blood transfusions for the rest of his life.

There was talk of clinical studies, specialty drugs, and chemo shots. After a lot of research (because that’s what he did), Jim decided to try one round of the chemo shots. If the shots really sucked, he would not continue them. He was weighing quality of life and quantity of life.

Before long, he needed weekly transfusions of blood and platelets to survive. At first, the blood transfusions energized him. He felt more normal. But eventually, one’s body cannot continue to process other people’s blood. His spleen became enlarged and painful. In the last month of his life, he had blood work scheduled 3 times a week to determine if he needed transfusions.

It became harder for Jim to move around. He had a hard time doing just basic things we take for granted, like standing up and walking down the hall.

Cancer finally took him, after a long-ass fight. It took him from us.

One week ago, Monday, January 23, 2023, Jim went to get a scheduled blood transfusion. Luckily, his cousin Stephen came over to help Melissa out that morning—Jim had a hard time walking that weekend, was unable to walk up the stairs, and needed help getting to the car. He ended up in the sled used to haul fireplace wood in, and Stephen pulled (and Melissa pushed) him up the snowy, icy backyard to the vehicle. (This in itself was kind of a funny story to be told later.) One always needs to think outside the box.

Jim was admitted to the hospital that day. There was never the thought that he would never be coming home again. At first the thought was they would pump him full of good stuff and then he'd come home within the next day or so. Things progressed quickly, and there was talk of hospice. Melissa thought he could come home for home hospice. People could stop by to visit and it would be a great last social event. Jim was all about the chatting and debating. Alas, it was not supposed to happen that way. Jim passed away on Thursday morning, January 26, 2023, after a swift decline.

His family is so grateful for the people that were able to visit him in the hospital. It was a work day after all, so peoples' schedules were limited. We all truly thought he would have a bit longer so more people could make it out. Luckily, his children were both able to see him.

As Jim’s daughter Katie said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” We can see a monumental debt being incurred by those who loved Jim. Seeing the outpouring of love for him in recent days has been awesome. I only hope that love continues to flow to those left behind with a Jimmy-shaped hole in their hearts.

No matter what you believe about what happens after this life, we know his star will shine brightly in the company of our loved ones who are no longer here. They are free from suffering in this world, for which we are grateful.

His sister Charis described Jim perfectly: “He had a keen intellect and thirst for knowledge. He had many conversations about everything from philosophy to politics with people. He was witty and loved a laugh, but he could be provocative and irreverent too. But, he lived authentically and unapologetically in his truth.”

He and his sister, JoEllen, had an adventurous childhood, moving to Australia in 1970. That was a trip for sure. They learned together and experienced life and were silly, fun, and best friends.

He lived in California for 10 years and then returned to Minnesota after his daughter, Katie was born. Son, Jake, was born 2 years later.

JoEllen said, “We both felt so fortunate to have a family like ours, Judy Welker our Mom, Grandparents, all of our aunts, uncles, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cousins, once removed, etc. ALL our extended family rocks. We both have enjoyed their love.

My brother, Jim Kumpula (aka (Slim (Whitman and his band that didn't play)), Jimmy, Jimmy Jr., Jim Bob, and the list goes on, loved life and lived it like there was no tomorrow.

He would want us all to celebrate his life! Think of great times together and toast him, he'd prefer with a shot of good Tequila, and say farewell to the guy that you all have a connection to in life.”

Jim did a fair amount of traveling—including to Iceland, which they considered one of the greatest places on Earth, with Melissa. He was a bold and daring guy and always ready with a story about his adventures. He went skydiving with his sister two summers ago and showed that video to anyone that would watch it.

Cars were his life! A mechanic for his entire working life (and beyond), Jim would see someone stranded with their car and try to help them out. In Iceland, there was a rental car on the side of the road that he stopped to help with. Recently, he took an Uber ride home. No doubt at Jim’s request, the Uber driver stopped at AutoZone to use Jim’s account, purchased some sort of fluid, and Jim added the fluid to the Uber car once he and the driver made it to Jim and Melissa’s house.

He would frequently comment on cars: “That sound means [blah blah car something blah].”

In his hospital bed in the last week of his life, he was talking some gibberish and much of it was about cars. He mentioned something about free parking and other car things. Even when no longer verbal, if someone talked cars to him, he seemed to react.

He loved the Minnesota Vikings, pretty much all animals, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin (played loudly), tequila and bourbon. He was very proud of his Finnish heritage and did a lot of genealogy research. He loved the ocean, surfing and sun. He would brag about how much he ate when he was a teenager and in his 20's. He'd eat an entire large pizza and pitcher of root beer. Then top it off with a box of Wheaties. He and his sister would go to 4 Thanksgivings some years (2 sets of grandparents and mom and dad's). He ate a full meal at every one.

Jimmy is survived by his wife Melissa, children Kathleen (Katie) and Jacob (Jake), cats Ginger (Gingy), Fred, and Kitty, stepmother Usha, sisters JoEllen and Charis, brother Colin, aunts Carolyn and Kathy, plus so many other family and friends. Special shoutout to his cousin Stephen, who helped him out a lot by driving him to appointments and just hanging out with him.

Jim is preceded in death by father James Edward Kumpula, Sr. and mother Judith Anne Gayle Patricia Lund Kumpula Welker (Judy Welker).

There will be a Celebration of Jim this spring after the snow melts on June 10,2023.

In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to the party fund.

memorial service

Celebration of Jim

June 10, 2023

Note that all pictures below are in absolutely no chronological order.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services