James "Jim" Allan Bull

James “Jim” Bull, age 76, of Mankato, MN, passed away peacefully at home on September 13, 2026, after a courageous battle with bile duct cancer. He was surrounded by the love of his devoted wife, Mary, and his two sons, Jesse and Max.

Jim was born in Robbinsdale, MN, on June 23, 1950. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School in 1968 and from Mankato State College in 1972 with a B.S. in Mathematics. At Mankato State, he was a member of the men’s swimming team, which achieved the most successful win record in school history. On September 1, 1972, Jim married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth deGrood. In 1979, Jim, Mary, and their 4-year-old son, Jesse, moved to Faribault, MN, where Jim opened, owned, and operated DeGrood’s Appliance for 20 years. He spent the past 26 years enjoying “retirement” in Mankato.

Jim was beloved wherever life took him. He formed lifelong friendships filled with love and laughter, including with childhood friends from Robbinsdale, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers, and hunting, fishing, and golf companions. He also formed special bonds with many families during his years in Minnesota, and while traveling throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jim was a master dog trainer, a skill he learned from his father, Ken, who earned national recognition. Jim was rarely seen without his black Labrador Retrievers, Doogie and Cody. In Faribault, when he wasn’t selling, delivering, or servicing appliances, he could be found coaching his boys’ sports teams and filming their games. He loved being outdoors with friends, spending time with family at their cabin on Roberds Lake, and playing competitive golf, softball, and noon basketball at the YMCA. From 1995 to 2004, Jim and Mary spent many weekends driving across the country to Grand Forks, ND, and Denver, CO, supporting their sons and making new friends along the way. Jim was passionate about his work with the Big Brother program through the YMCA, providing one-to-one mentoring. More recently, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and quiet dinners at home with Mary, often followed by a competitive game of Gin Rummy.

Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary; children, Jesse (Lee) and Max (Kea); grandchildren, Patrick, Lauren, and Gunnar; siblings, Gerald (Claire) Bull and Nancy (Jim) Bogenrief; siblings-in-law, Joan (Gregg) Andersen, Steve deGrood, John (Sarah) deGrood, Pete (Liz) deGrood, Ann Slottow, Jane (Lee) Carlstrom, Amy (Kevin) deGrood, Gretchen deGrood, and Katerina (John) Haley; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Gertrude Bull; infant son, Joseph Bull; nephews, Daryle Bogenrief, Derk Slottow, and Erik Andersen; parents-in-law, John and Shirley deGrood; and siblings-in-law, Joe deGrood, Therese Lord, and Marie deGrood.

His family is thankful for his love, directness, humor, wisdom, generosity, and quiet, deep faith. They are also grateful for the loving care and support of family, friends, neighbors, and the hospice staff at St. Croix during his final days.

A Celebration of Life honoring Jim will be held on Saturday, November 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mankato Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the Bull family requests that memorials be dedicated in Jim Bull’s honor to the Mankato Family YMCA, a charitable organization dear to Jim’s heart: CLICK HERE