William James Kress
VERGENNES — With heavy hearts, and more than a few smiles at the memories he leaves behind, we announce the passing of William James “Jim” Kress, 83, on July 24, 2026.
Jim was born April 24, 1943, in Hackensack, N.J., the only son of William and Marie (Shadwell) Kress. As the family’s lone boy, he had six older sisters looking out for him. He attended St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford, N.J.
A true Jersey boy at heart, Jim began his career as a pharmaceutical representative for Marion Laboratories while raising a young family. Then, like many dreamers of the 1960s, he fell under Vermont’s spell. He bought a farmhouse in Monkton that looked as though it needed “a little work,” a phrase that turned into a 30-year renovation project. If something was broken, Jim would repair it. If it wasn’t broken, he might improve it anyway.
Jim rarely met a challenge he didn’t think he could build, fix, or improve. He tried his hand at maple sugaring, raised pigs, chickens, sheep and cows, and bred Golden Retrievers. He started Valley Foundations and poured the beginnings of many houses in Addison and Chittenden counties.
Summers found Jim happiest at the family camps on Mile Point in Ferrisburgh, where Lake Champlain offered endless opportunities for adventure. Over the years he enjoyed just about every way to be on the water: powerboats, sailboats, and kayaks, but eventually decided a pontoon boat was the perfect place for enjoying the lake with family and friends.
Jim loved being outdoors. He was a hunter, sailor, golfer, and devoted woodsman. But mowing was something else entirely. It was his quiet escape, a chance to disappear onto the tractor for a few peaceful hours, often with a repair or tune-up thrown in for good measure.
In retirement, Jim settled in Panton and spent countless hours mowing fields and wandering the woods in search of just the right tree for next winter’s woodpile. He believed there was always one more thing to do outside as long as it was followed up by sitting and enjoying either a beautiful view or a cozy fire.
Jim’s greatest joy, however, was his family. He is survived by Carol, his devoted wife of 60 years; his children, Greg (Becky) and Amy (David); his treasured grandchildren, Lucas, Miles, and Zoey; and his sister, Catherine Ewan. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Marie Kress; and his sisters, Ethna Kress, Jae Guiliano, Willa Dempster, Marie Boland, and Aileen Seitz.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vergennes Food Shelf, 30 South Water St., Vergennes, VT 05491.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 15, at the Vergennes Congregational Church, 30 South Water St., Vergennes, Vt. ◊
5 Responses
RIP Jim
Jim & Carol are our special friends from Englewood, Fl. We enjoyed so many times together! They definitely played a Hugh part in our memories of life at the Sanctuary!
Sending love, hugs, prayers and condolences to the family! Hopefully all your memories will be a comfort to you during this time! ❤️🩹💕🙏
I met Jim at the Sanctuary when he and Carol first rented a condo. After they became owners, I always looked forward to the fall when he and Carol would return from Vermont to spend the winter. Jim and I did a lot together and had a lot of fun together. I’ll always have very good memories of Jim, and our time together. I miss him!
Sorry to lose Jim. I loved him and always looked forward to interacting with him at the Sanctuary every winter. He was always fun to be around. I will miss him. Condolences from Lana and myself.
Condolences to you, Carol, and your family. Jim was always such a happy face around the Sanctuary. We will miss him and you.
I’m remembering many times our families were together, cross-country skiing, helping on each others maple sugaring operations, Jim bringing his tractor over to plow my mother’s garden, (and the front end of the tractor falling off, so it spent the night with us.)
And, hearing stories of Jim hitching a nausea-inducing ride to Vermont on a military plane, a rodeo around Monkton to retrieve animals on the farm after they decided to escape the barn enmasse.
The progression of boats over the years, from motorboats, the Cobia, to a series of sailboats, culminating with the Yardage, (and Inchage,) and back to speedboats again with the bright red Formula. Also, I believe, the first windsurfer and inflatable dingy on Mile Point. But, I was always pleased that Jim bought a pontoon boat, years after my father’s Party Barge had been gone.
All the evenings on each other’s porches, and docks, and our Tuckaway. Jim brought the keg to the annual picnic, for many years, and I remember when the other members of the camp association decided to no longer have a keg, Jim told my father that they must be getting old. Then, after my parents were both gone, Jim wasn’t pleased with how the hillside cemetery was maintained, so he went back with a mower, himself.
I’m afraid the members of the Mile Point Boat & Bottle Club are fading away, these days, and Jim will certainly be missed, but I’m very grateful for the memories, and the friendship of our families, indeed.