David Raymond Ulstrom departed this world on November 24th, 2025, aged 91, to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his beloved wife Shirley.

Born December 29, 1933, in Minneapolis MN, Dave was the second of four children raised by loving parents Raymond and Eleanore Ulstrom. He lost his mother at age 6 to an asthma attack; in his last memory of her, she told him he was a good boy. After 8 years in a sometimes chaotic
single-parent household, his father married Christine Weis. Grandma Chris, as the family affectionately came to know her, quickly brought order to the household.

Dave was an accomplished athlete, excelling in football, basketball, swimming, and wrestling. After breaking his arm during a high school wrestling match, he switched to gymnastics and later won the City of Minneapolis Tumbling title.

After high school, Dave enlisted in the US Navy. He was stationed in California and Japan, where he served as a medic during the Korean War. During this time his sister Betty introduced him to her nursing school classmate, Shirley Sundin. It was love at first sight, and they soon
made plans for a life together.

Dave and Shirley spent their early married years in Minneapolis where they welcomed their first son, Peter. Though they briefly relocated to Seattle, where their daughter Sheila was born, they returned to Minneapolis to be closer to family. There, Dave found his career as a fireman and
the family grew with the arrival of sons Paul and Daniel.  A few years later, the family settled in Mora. Dave was extremely involved in community affairs, as a councilman and Sunday school teacher at Grace Lutheran Church, a hospital board member, a school bus driver, and – after his retirement from the fire department – a county commissioner.

Although retirement often means more free time, this wasn't the case for Dave and Shirley. Between weekly outings with friends and family, they found time to travel the world and made the most of their golden years. Dave continued an active lifestyle well into his 60s: running marathons, playing basketball, bowling, golfing, scuba diving, cross country skiing, and playing on softball teams with his sons.

As Shirley's health declined, a move was inevitable and they found the perfect senior living facility in Belle Plaine, close to daughter Sheila and granddaughters Jaime and Jenna. The family is especially grateful to them for their dedication and care, and to Jaime's husband Jeff, who helped manage Dave's affairs and took him out to lunch every Friday as his health allowed.

Dave was the best father. He made sure his family had a vacation every summer, took them on hunting trips, and attended all of his kids' sporting events; he taught them how to swim, how to throw a baseball, how to golf, and most importantly how to be kind. Anyone who knew Dave knew a man who never stopped smiling, never stopped loving, never stopped joking, and was a friend to everyone he met. He will be immensely missed by everyone who knew him.

Dave is preceded in death by his adoring wife Shirley, parents Raymond and Eleanore (Dukatz), stepmother Christine, grandson Benjamin, and siblings Betty and Bonnie.

He is survived by his four children: Peter (Cheryl) Ulstrom, Sheila Parent, Paul (Andrea) Ulstrom and Daniel (Lisa) Ulstrom, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, sister Jean Wellman, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church in Mora with Rev. Gary Guptill officiating.  Visitation will be from 10-11 A.M. at the church.  Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.  Military honors are being provided by the Mora American Legion Post 201.