Jim Krause

I grew up in the Midwest, MO & IA then right out of high school left town to live and work in a manufacturing and electronics company, Collin’s Radio Co. (later becoming Rockwell International) in Cedar Rapids, IA for the next four years. Near the last half of year four I received a draft registration notice and realized I could be drafted in about six months.  Having now worked in a corporate environment and having completed a correspondence course in electronics and TV broadcasting, I decided that I should pursue options before getting a draft notice.

I tested well for both the Air Force and Navy programs and chose the Navy because of the nuclear power option that was available to me as a designated recruit.  Though this required an additional two years for submarines, I felt with my being single at the time, that it would be the best option for me in the long run, pay great dividends, and offer lifelong experiences and memories. Ultimately, I became a nuclear reactor operator on board a submarine and earned my dolphins during the first year.

Little did I know that I would meet the love of my life and future wife of 55+ years while training to be on a submarine for the next 2+ years.  After my honorable discharge in December 1969, not only did I continue to pursue my relationship and subsequent marriage to Gloria but I also began attending college.  Gloria and I have a beautiful daughter, a wonderful son-in-law and two grandchildren ages 11 and almost 16 who live in Santa Rosa. We moved here in order to be a part of their lives.

Though it took me eight years to get a bachelors degree from San Jose State, having changed majors twice, I found my real capability and, I feel, calling, which resulted in 15 years of employment at IBM as a Quality Engineer.  God continues His plan for me and certainly I could’ve never guessed how it would look both in my faith journey, employment and education.  

I first came to know the Lord during my early childhood growing up in two different Methodist churches, one in town where I lived, and the other in a rural setting where my parents grew up.  Picture a one-room old country church with a cemetery across the road where my mother‘s parents were both buried.  My profession of faith was during that time at Mount Olive Methodist Church where, after the sermon, we would break up into Sunday school classes. The kids would be up front in the choir pews. It was there that I came to my first awareness that something bigger had to be responsible for all that was going on in my life and around me in nature.  The teaching that I was receiving gave clear indication that that ‘something’ was Jesus Christ and included God, the Father and the Holy Spirit.  So at some point along that path I decided to profess my faith and was baptized at that church.  I’ve never been the same since as I’m sure many of you have experienced in some form along life’s way.

I’ve served in several different ministry capacities with over 10 years at Crosswalk Community Church in Sunnyvale as the leader of the Welcome Ministry team of usher‘s greeter,  welcome table and communion element preparation components.  During my time there I also served on a search committee to interview candidates for the senior pastor position.  I also served with the landscape maintenance and facilities teams, and with the men’s ministry team (which included heading up the kitchen, planning retreats and facilitating the team).

In the last five years, my service to our Lord has come outside the church as a board member and now president of my home owner’s sub-association in Oakmont.

Since becoming a OCC Board Member, affirmed by the congregation on July 26, 2026, it is my hope and prayer that I will become a contributing member during my three-year term and equally important, have the opportunity for spiritual growth in my faith journey.

I continue to serve our Lord in other leadership activities including facilitating the Oakmont Men’s Bible Study as well as in a technical capacity, streaming Bible teaching videos and other media.  I’m also part of the OCC Bible study.

Currently I attend both Oakmont Community Church and First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, where my beloved Gloria and I attended for nearly ten years before her sudden passing on October 9, 2025.