Campus mourns the loss of James Kress

His name rests in permanence on the Kress Events Center exterior, dedicated a decade ago, and on the newly-constructed Kress Family Outdoor Recreation Center. Longtime supporter and lead donor of the Kress Center, James Kress, 89, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Jim and Julie-Anne Kress supported Phoenix athletics and the Edward W. Weidner Center for the Performing Arts for many years. Through his leadership of the George Kress Foundations, Jim Kress was instrumental in supporting UW-Green Bay’s Engineering program and the STEM Innovation Center, as well. The UW-Madison graduate was widely known for his support of the public university system in Wisconsin and recognized that supporting public higher education was important for the state to grow and prosper.

The Green Bay native took over Green Bay Packaging from his father, George Kress, in 1958. Funeral plans are still pending.