Zsolt Aarsland Vincze, 61, passed away peacefully on October 18th, 2025, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN, after a battle with cancer. In the days prior, he received countless visits from beloved family, friends, and his excellent caregiving team at Regions.

Zsolt is preceded in death by his father and mother, Bertalan and Erzsébet Vincze. He is survived by his wife, Maria (Marika); sons, Demetri, Zsolt Jr., and Dávid; daughter-in-law, Alyssa; granddaughters, Maya and Naomi; and brothers, Ferdinánd and Árpád. He is also survived by his chosen family from Norway, including his adoptive parents, Magnus and Kirsten Aarsland, and their many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Zsolt was born in Dunaújváros, Hungary, on January 9th, 1964. Growing up in Besnyő, a remote village, he spent his childhood working on his family farm, which sparked his interest in agriculture. He saved enough to travel to Norway, where he worked on the Aarsland family farm as part of an international exchange program. He became fascinated by the innovations and developments fueled by capitalism and subsequently decided to pursue economics. Years later, he would take Aarsland as his middle name as an homage to the family he grew so close with in his time there. In 1989, he became the first Eastern European to come to the United States via the MAST Exchange Program, enrolling at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his Master's degree in Agriculture and Applied Economics.

Zsolt began his professional career with the Continental Grain Company, where he started out as a grain merchant. He eventually became a commodities trader and advisor working at Cargill, R.J. O'Brien, and finally Sweet Futures. Zsolt loved and excelled in his work and developed many meaningful and long-lasting friendships with his coworkers and clients along the way. He always enjoyed visiting and exchanging knowledge with farmers, and truly wanted to see them prosper. Zsolt’s work was recognized through invitations to speak at international conferences and industry meetings, as well as awards for excellence in innovation, sales, and risk management.

Zsolt had varied interests that reflected his unique, vibrant personality. He was a lifelong learner who knew multiple languages, with deep knowledge of world history and geopolitics. Zsolt had a keen intellect, dry sense of humor, and a charisma that drew people to him both personally and professionally. He was caring, dependable, and endlessly generous, supporting not only his family and friends but also organizations including the Minnesota Hungarians, Alight, and the International Institute of Minnesota - helping fellow immigrants establish themselves in the United States as he had done decades prior. He enjoyed traveling with his family, hiking in the wilderness with Marika, and cooking on lazy Sunday mornings while listening to his favorite reggae artists: Bob Marley, Burning Spear, and Yellowman. 

Zsolt's legacy of love will never fade. He is with us always.

Zsolt's Celebration of Life will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Lauderdale, MN, on November 8th, 2025, at 11:00 am.

A livestream will be available, beginning at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society and/or the Minnesota Hungarians, in memory of Zsolt.