James Walter Krause

With love and sadness, we say goodbye to James Walter Krause of Reedley, California. He left this world on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024, preceded in death by his father Walter David Krause; his mother Helen (Klassen) Krause; his brother John Krause; and his sister Mary Krause. James was known by friends and family as “Jim.” He was an agricultural consultant and an artist.

In 1966 Jim graduated with a degree in History from Pacific College of Fresno where he served as student body Vice President. While at Pacific he met the love of his life, Ruth Anne Hofer. They were married for 68 years. Jim and Ruth Anne began married life with a move to Omaha, Nebraska when he accepted a two-year social work assignment with Mennonite Central Committee as an alternative to fighting in the Viet Nam war. While the war raged overseas, Jim crossed into the fiery danger zones of the ghettos in his own country to spread peace. When he finished the assignment with MCC, the couple moved back to California where he continued as a social worker, this time for children who were wards of the court in Contra Costa County of the East Bay area.

During this time the Krause’s boys, Matt and Mark, were born. To supplement the family income, Jim began driving to the San Joaquin valley to graft orchards on weekends. This was a skill he’d honed while a teenager working with his father Walter in the orchards. Soon Jim was operating his own full time business grafting orchards and vineyards and training crew members up and down the Pacific Coast through California and Washington. He also started consulting with large agricultural companies and training their laborers in effective horticultural practices. To continue the growing business, Jim and his family moved from the Bay Area to Reedley.

Because there was demand for more flavorful fruit Jim began traveling the world to find fruit varieties that were flavorful and to learn how they could be grown in the U.S. Ruth Anne traveled with him. The couple bought Redwood Orchards from Jim’s parents where Jim experimented with the flavorful varieties he found both locally and in his travels. They set up a fruit stand on Rio Vista in Reedley and sold fruit at farmers and to restaurants.

In addition to his work in horticulture, Jim was well known for his wood carving and photography skills. But 12 years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and for the rest of his life fought a fierce battle through its progressions. However, he learned to keep his spirit alive by his joy in the ordinary moments of life such as playing with his grandchildren and sharing his love of beauty with others as long as possible by his woodwork and photography.

Jim is survived by his wife Ruth Anne; his sons Matt and Mark, their wives Tugba and Andrea, and his grandchildren Finn and Skyler who call him Papa.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the First Mennonite Church in Reedley, CA or to the Parkinson's Foundation.

https://www.fmcreedley.org/

https://www.parkinson.org/