Mar. 18, 1933 – Dec. 16, 2019

It is with the saddest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pastor JAMES “JIM” WAYNE KRAUSE, beloved husband of the late Jean Krause, beloved dad, grandpa, brother and friend to many. Jim passed away surrounded by family at the Milk River Health Centre on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the age of 86 years. After a courageous battle with cancer, Jim was taken home to be with his Lord and Saviour.

Jim was the loving father of Michelle “Micki” (Mike) Pulsifer of Raymond, AB; Michael (Phyllis) Krause of St. Charles, Missouri; Marcie (Jay) Eagleson of Marshall, SK; and Melinda (Mindy) Prunkle of Milk River, AB.  He was the loving grandfather of Jennifer Huber (Travis Townsend); Trish Huber; Craig (Vickie) Pulsifer; James Huber; Lisa (Chris) Martin; Nikki (Mike) Porter; Ryan Ewald; Kelly (Nathan) Weber; Kyle (Emily) Ewald; Leah Krause; Crystal Eagleson; Kimberly (Jason) King; Amanda (Steve) Popson; Jessie Prunkle, and Caitlin “Katie” Prunkle; the loving great-grandfather of Sheena, Samantha, Christopher, Shaunte, Savanna, Cortney, Jory, Tristin, Kavan, Colton, Ryann, Owyn, Blake; Eian, Zoie, Marley, Irene, Eric, Robyn, Regan, Jayne and Jade; and the loving great-great-grandfather of Austin, Evander, Kyler, Wylder, Kallie, and River. He is also survived by his brothers Donald Krause, Richard (Sandy) Krause and Jerry (Wendy) Krause as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim will also be missed by his many cherished friends.

Jim was predeceased by his loving wife of 52 years, Jean Krause (nee Graves); infant daughter, Brenda Lynn Krause; mother, Elaine Weinerth (nee Ogg); father, Emil Krause; step-father, Lawrence Weinerth and sister-in-law, Arlene Krause.

Jim was born March 18, 1933 on a farm near Geneva, Nebraska.  When he was 14 years old, the family moved to the state of Washington where he lived on a ranch for three years.  He then joined the United States Air Force and was trained as an airplane mechanic.

After his discharge from the service at age 21, he lived in St. Louis, Missouri where he met and married the love of his life, Jean, on April 30, 1955. They moved to Geneva, Nebraska and lived there for a year. Jim worked drilling irrigation wells and in an auto body shop. Their first daughter, Michelle, was born in Nebraska.

The family moved to Seattle, Washington, where Jim was employed by the Boeing Airplane Company for four years. Three children were born in Washington – Brenda, Mike, and Marcie. Brenda passed away in her infancy.

The family returned to St. Louis where Jim found employment at the General Motors Assembly Plant and at Concordia Seminary.  Mindy was born in St. Louis.  It was also during this time that Jim met his Lord and became a Christian. Jim was baptized with his four children in June of 1962 (Jean was already baptized). Jim was inspired and called to become a Lutheran minister, worked full-time and studied part-time at a Junior College and at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Jim and his family came to Milk River as a “worker Priest” in the fall of 1975. He worked at the Prairie Rose Lodge and served as a minister at St. Matthews Church in Milk River.

Jim attended Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon and became an ordained Lutheran Minister in 1986. His first call was to Leader/Burstall, Saskatchewan. Jim served at a number of churches in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. He retired in 2000 when Jim and Jean moved back to Milk River. Jim continued to be involved with interim ministry positions until he fully retired.

Jim moved into the Prairie Rose Lodge in November of 2017. He so enjoyed the fellowship and friendships that he made with so many of the wonderful people that he met while there.

Dad enjoyed many hobbies over the years including photography, road trips, carpentry, gardening and researching family history. His favorite past time was to attend family gatherings and he loved visiting. Dad loved his ministry service and it was especially meaningful to have dad/grandpa perform family weddings and baptisms.

Our Dad taught us the value of hard work and perseverance; dad and mom decided early on that family came first; we always knew, without a doubt, that we were loved; they left a legacy of a loving, close knit family that included all who came to our family through love; we will continue to stand by each other through the joys and the sorrows of life.

Dad touched our lives, our hearts and was a blessing to many through his ministry and his gentle manner. He will be in our hearts forever. We will miss his smile; he always had such a warm smile and a great chuckle. Dad truly was well loved by many and will be deeply missed.

We would like to thank all of the caring and dedicated staff at the Prairie Rose Lodge in Milk River, the Milk River EMS, Milk River Home Care, Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge and the Palliative Care Team in Lethbridge.

We want to say a special thank you to Dr. Krog and all of the staff at the Milk River Health Centre. We appreciate your care and dedication in looking after dad/grandpa; you became a part of our family during this time and we will be forever grateful to you.

For those who would like to visit with the family, a time of Visitation will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday,  January 3, 2020 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Jim’s family would be honoured by your presence at a Memorial Service to celebrate his life at ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 301 Main Street N.W., Milk River, AB on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. A time of fellowship will follow at the Milk River Civic Centre, 321 – 3 Avenue N.E.

In memory of Jim, donations may be made to AHS, Milk River Health Centre; Milk River Tree of Hope, PO Box 90, Milk River, AB T0K 2M0.  This year’s Tree of Hope campaign, running to January 6, 2020, is going towards purchasing an ECG machine and ceiling lifts at the Milk River Health Centre.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”  John 11:25 – 26a

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2019-12-16
• Location : Milk River, Alberta