Remembering James Kress
Chancellor Gary L. Miller took part in an interview about James Kress, the longtime leader of Green Bay Packaging and a friend to many, many people and organizations, including UW-Green Bay. The Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Jeff Bollier wrote a thorough tribute.
“In 2004, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay began fundraising to upgrade the Phoenix Sports Center and sought contributions from the community to match $7.5 million in state funding. The George F. Kress Foundation made a leading gift, helping to raise $11 million in local support. The revamped facility was renamed the Kress Events Center when it re-opened in November 2007.
UWGB Chancellor Gary Miller said the Kress family caught the university by surprise when they made a leading gift to the Brown County STEM Innovation Center, the 63,000-square-foot building under construction on the UWGB campus. The building will house the Richard J. Resch School of Engineering, the Einstein Project and land and water departments for the UW-Extension and Brown County.
“Those are lasting gifts, a very important, transformational kind of giving,” Miller said. “The whole family really has a sense of where they can make a real difference in the community. Jim had a real desire to give to make a difference.”
Miller described Kress as a thoughtful person whose family sought ways to use their giving to make a long-term impact.
“He always seemed to me to be a very joyous giver,” Miller said. “His legacy is so impressive in terms of community support. It’s the way he gave that’s one of the things we’ll miss the most.”
Family and friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Oneida Country Club, 207 Country Club Road, Green Bay. A short prayer service will conclude the evening at 7:30 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019 at First United Church of Christ, 509 S. Webster Avenue, Green Bay. Full Military Honors will follow the Funeral Service. Inurnment will take place at Allouez Catholic Mausoleum.
