Lillemor Kullman

Arne Håkon Tunheim, Lillemor Kullman's partner, notified me that Lillemor passed away during Sunday night, November 22, 2009.

This photo of Lillemor shows her with a teasing gleam in her eyes and was taken by Arne Håkon on a rainy day in August, 2005 when they attended the World Championship for Icelandic Horses in Norrköping, Sweden.

Lillemor was one of my mentors. She produced truly amazing Icelandic Sheepdogs. All you have to do is look at her website to see the many, many wonderful Ullälvas dogs, many of them champions, to know how successful she was. She had "the eye" and knew how to breed dogs that exemplified the standard without sacrificing things like temperament and health and intelligence.

One of our newer imports, Tófi av Isheim bred by Arne Håkon of Isheim kennel and co-owned by Jenifer Brimmer and me, has several Ullälvas dogs in his background.

Lillemor's kennel is Kennel Ullälva. Although it's early, probably Lillemor's daughter Åsa will take over the work she started. Some Ullälva litters that were already planned for early next year (2010) by Lillemor and Arne Håkon will go ahead with Åsa's help. There is a current litter on the ground now; all of the puppies are already sold.

I always felt comfortable going to Lillemor with any question about Icelandic Sheepdogs for candid answers. She told it like it was not splitting any hairs.

You can visit Kennel Ullälva and Kennel Isheim by going to the ISIB website and clicking on either kennel name. (Look in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the ISIB link.) Arne Håkon and Åsa will continue to monitor her website and they can be contacted through it.

Lillemor will be sorely missed.