Kristine M. James

1959 - 2024

Kristine M. James, 65, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at her home in Woodstock, Ill, on October 12, 2024. Her loss was sudden and heartbreaking to her friends and family.

She was born on April 20, 1959, in Milaca to Thomas and Mary Fuller. A 1977 graduate of Milaca High School, she earned a bachelor's degree from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. For 30 years, she worked as a talented and exacting quality control chemist for Baxter Health Care in Round Lake, Ill. She married Daniel James on December 29, 1984.

Kristine truly cared about people, especially those less fortunate. She poured her strengths and energy into charity, creating many handmade products for sale to aid victims of domestic violence. She knitted hats and mittens for needy children through the Madison, Wis. Knitters Guild and made warm hats for personnel on US Navy ships through Hats for Sailors.

Family was important to her. She was a loving and devoted daughter throughout her parents' lives. She always acknowledged a family birthday, birth or marriage with a handwritten card or a beautiful piece of her needlework. She also cared for her mother-in-law, who even in advanced stages of dementia could sense how good and caring Kristine was.

Gardening was another of her passions and talents. She combined the green thumb she inherited from her mother with her scientific knowledge to plan and develop extensive gardens that featured a variety of artfully displayed plants.

Kristine is truly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her father in 2008, her mother in 2016, her brother Marc in 2011, and her mother-in-law, Dorothy James, in 2007.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel; her brother, Scott (Ellen) of Sauk Rapids; a sister-in-law, Kristi, of St. Paul, and Scott and Ellen's children: Amanda (Carey) Groethe of Sartell, and their family; Vanessa Fuller of St. Cloud; and Anthony Fuller, also of St. Cloud.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. A reception and light lunch will follow at the Milaca United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Milaca Scholarship Foundation (milaca.dollarsforscholars.org or PO Box 262, Milaca MN 56353).