James Peter Hess

James Hess of St. George left this earth on December 6 at the age of 81. Cancer took his body but his soul rests with God, his Creator, and Jesus, his Savior.

 James Hess was born to Alice and Frank Hess in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on June 19, 1943. He married Judy Laska on June 20, 1964 and they moved to Port Edwards. He worked as a pulp tester at Nekoosa Papers, then paper tester, eventually becoming a machinist. They raised 3 children: Linda (Kracht— spouse Scott deceased), John (1967-1997), and Jeanne (Winters— spouse Bob).

 At age 33, Jim realized his life was not the way he wanted it to be. He began reading the Bible. With the help of his boss, a born-again Christian, Jim acknowledged his need for a Savior. This change in his life influenced his whole family to follow after Jesus, too and they started attending Christian Life Fellowship in Nekoosa. Jim became part of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, prison ministry, and traveled to Russia, Nigeria and Peru to share the Gospel.

 Jim loved golfing, fishing and deer hunting. He took the family camping and skiing often. Judy and he played couples bridge. For many years, Jim had a “paper ministry”— buying paper from the mill and shipping it to missionaries in other countries. In 1997 they lost their only son in a tragic accident, yet praised the Lord and continued following God. 

 After Jim retired, they followed the youngest grandchildren to St. George, Utah. In retirement Jim enjoyed sitting in the hot tub, shooting pool (few people could beat him), playing bridge, trips to Costa Rica and Egypt with Linda, and a vacation to New Zealand/Australia with Judy. He loved spending a month each winter in Phoenix, AZ where he picked citrus fruit to bring back to share with friends. Jim and Judy attended New Life Christian Center. In June they celebrated 60 years of marriage with a road trip to Canada.

 Jim’s passion was telling others about Jesus Christ. He wrote a Gospel booklet titled “God’s Logic” to hand out to anyone he encountered. Grandpa will be remembered by his grandchildren Jeshua (Kimmy) Kracht, Kaci (Will) Mespelt, Ava Winters, Chas Winters, and great grandchildren Xerxes and Cillian Mespelt.

 A celebration of life service will be held December 17th at 4pm at New Life Christian Center, 1062 East Tabernacle Street, St. George [lower level of building]; followed by a reception.