James Skurla

James A. (Jim) Skurla, 63, of Duluth passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, in St. Luke's Hospital, Duluth.

Jim was born on September 12, 1952, in Duluth to John and Mavis (Alto) Skurla.

Jim attended St. Michael's Catholic School and Cathedral High School in Duluth. While in high school he and his family moved to Chisholm, where he graduated from high school.

Jim graduated from UMD in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. In 1977 he graduated with a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He returned to Duluth after graduation and was hired by the University of Minnesota Duluth. He married Rebecca Routh on October 6, 1984.

At the time of his retirement in June 2014, Jim was the Director of the UMD Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Prior to that he was an Instructor of Economics at UMD for several years. Jim touched the lives of many students, colleagues, and people in the community. He was an avid fisherman, homebrewer, and long-time supporter of UMD Bulldogs Men's Hockey.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law Mabel Routh.

Jim is survived by his wife Becky; daughter Emily (Sydne) Mwalye; brothers Steven (Karen), Michael, Archbishop William, Robert (Denise), David (Kathleen); uncle Father Anthony Skurla; nephews Zackary and Joshua Skurla, Michael (Shay) Upchurch; father-in-law Robert Routh; brother-in-law Robert (Tanya) Routh II.

Visitation: 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 5 in the Dougherty Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Friday from 10:00am to the 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary 2801 E. 4th St, Duluth, MN. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth 218-727-3555.