James Howard Krause

James was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Olive, his baby sister, and his two nephews, both named Johnathan. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, his children, Christa (Jeff), Robert, Philip (Michelle), and Daniel, his grandchildren, Max, Sam, Roy, and Mae, his siblings, Carol, Robert, Richard, Daniel, Barbara, Sandra, and Deborah, and their children. Services will be held at 11AM on October 26th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, where he served as Pastor for the last 32 years. The family would ask that those desiring to give a memorial gift make a donation to Gethsemane Lutheran Church at 3434 Holly Road, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78415. 

Pastor James Howard Krause (“Jim”), 68, of Corpus Christi, took his final breath, surrounded by his wife and children, on October 18, 2022, following a sudden hemorrhagic stroke.

Jim was born on May 21, 1954, to Robert and Olive Krause in Milwaukee Wisconsin. After graduating from the Wisconsin Lutheran High School, where his dad served as principal, he spent a year studying in Belgium. Upon his return to the US, he attended Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies in 1976.

Upon graduating Northwestern College, Jim entered seminary at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Milwaukee. While in seminary, Jim spent time living and traveling across Europe and North Africa with his brothers, Rich and Dan. He graduated from seminary and was ordained as a minister in 1981.

Jim took his first call as a pastor to Messiah Lutheran Church in Shiocton, Wisconsin. It was during this time that he began dating his future wife, Charlotte, after she gave a presentation to his congregation about her work as a nurse in Zambia. Jim and Charlotte were married in 1983 and their first child, Christa, was born the following year.

In 1984, Jim accepted a call to Hong Kong, China, and moved there with his new family. James lived in Hong Kong from 1984-89, where he ministered, trained pastors, became fluent in Cantonese, and played a key role in establishing the South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission (S.A.L.E.M.) While living in Hong Kong, Jim and Charlotte celebrated the birth of their first two sons, Robert (1986) and Philip (1987). Upon returning to Milwaukee in 1989, Jim earned his Doctoral degree.

The next and last pastoral calling Jim accepted was in 1990 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi. Jim and Charlotte’s youngest son, Daniel, was born at Bay Area Medical Center in 1994. During his tenure as Gethsemane’s Pastor, he continued to take part in mission work including trips to Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Cameroon.

Jim was a gifted linguist, proficient in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Cantonese. He was also an avid scholar and student of history. Jim loved to travel and explore different cultures. In his free time, he enjoyed reading and spending time in the outdoors. He particularly enjoyed the time he would spend at his ranch in George West, where he would hunt and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Jim had several hobbies, his most recent being bread-making, which he became quite good at. While he never drew attention to it or pursued it seriously, Jim was also a talented artist.

Jim loved his family very much and he made a point to let them know constantly. He pushed his children to always do their very best, and was proud to have raised a Master in Public Health, a CFA, a medical doctor, and a lawyer. His love for his family extended to his love for his four grandchildren. Above all things, however, Jim loved his Lord and prioritized sharing the good news of Jesus’s love and salvation with everyone he knew.

Even though Jim’s family is going to miss him very much in the coming days and years, they are secure in the knowledge that he has finally gone to his true home in heaven. They look forward to the future reunion they will have when they are all gathered again in Christ’s kingdom.

A memorial service will be held at 11AM on October 26th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 3434 Holly Road, Corpus Christi, TX, 78415. The family would ask that those desiring to make a memorial gift donate to Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

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Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the Krause family.