Obituary of Jay Carl Vollum

Jay Carl Vollum, of Bloomington, Minnesota, passed away on April 21st, 2025, surrounded by family members after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 83 years old.

Jay lived a full, rich life during which he touched many other people with his kind, giving nature, thoughtful curiosity, and sense of humor.

Born September 19, 1941, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, he was the loving son of Iner and Genevieve (Lageson) Vollum. Jay was raised in Albert Lea with his older sister Nancy and younger brother John. There, he attended Abbott Elementary School, a half a block from his home, and graduated from Albert Lea High School. As a youth, Jay worked at Gildner's Clothing (“Clothes make the man”), making him a third-generation employee of the family business started by his grandfather Carl Lageson and managed by his father Iner.

After graduating from high school, he left Albert Lea to attend Luther College in Iowa. He spent a year at Luther College before transferring to the University of Minnesota and eventually Mankato State University, where he received a degree in Social Studies and met Mickey DeMay, the love of his life and wife of 59 years.

After college, Jay joined the Navy, where he trained in the naval flight school, ultimately transferring to Air Intelligence. After marrying Mickey in 1965, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where he and his new bride spent three wonderful years making life-long friends and great memories. Hawaii would remain a special place for Jay and his family.

After leaving the Navy, Jay and Mickey returned to the Midwest, spending several years in St. Louis, Missouri, and Madison, Wisconsin, before returning to Minnesota and settling in Bloomington. It was here that he began his career as a Sales Representative for 3M in their surgical product division (the Vollum household always had more than enough tape and bandages!).

Jay was an acutely curious person with many interests throughout his life. Jay was a great conversationalist; he loved to learn about people with whom he interacted and had a genuine interest in their lives and experiences. Jay was also a lifelong reader, enjoying books on many different subjects and in a variety of genres. He was always eager to share book recommendations and discuss the ideas they contained. Jay also enjoyed many athletic activities over the course of his life, whether playing handball on the base in Hawaii, bowling in multiple leagues with his wife, Mickey, or playing racquetball with his sons. Throughout his life, Jay enjoyed playing golf and has passed that love on to his grandson Kai (who has inherited his golf clubs).

Jay’s true loves in life were his family and his dogs. Though he travelled a lot for work, he seldom missed his kids’ school or sporting events and developed many lasting friendships with other parents along the way. His canine companions had a special place in his heart. It is often joked that his first child was a Cocker Spaniel named Shady and that his true soulmate was a Siberian Husky named Niko. Some of his greatest joys were taking long walks with his dogs and granddogs and spoiling them with unhealthy treats and the freedom that came with his decidedly lenient approach to discipline.

Jay had two favorite places to visit during his life: Hawaii and the family cabin near Walker, MN. Though he would move home from Hawaii after only three years, it was clear that he never fully left Hawaii behind. Pieces of Hawaii were present throughout his home and in the language used there (getting some odd looks whenever calling hors d’oeuvres or appetizers “pupus“). He returned to Hawaii with his family as often as possible, the last time in 2015 for his 50th wedding anniversary. In the latter part of his life, Jay spent much of his time at the family cabin and was an active member of the local community there. His trips to the cabin were often solitary (or, more accurately, just him and his dog Niko), but he also enjoyed sharing it with family and friends. It will never be the same there without him.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents Iner and Genevieve, sister Nancy Swanson, and beloved dogs Shady and Niko.

He is survived by his wife, Mickey; two sons, Scott (Holly) and Matt; grandson, Kai; former daughter-in-law, Jacki Buffington; brother, John (Diane); brother-in-law, Steve Swanson; granddogs, Cooper & Murphy; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and beloved family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Noon at the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Edina (7110 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435). Memorial Services will follow at 1pm. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or a charity of your choice.