Kristine James Knudsen Brees

On the first day of fall in 1951, Kristine James Knudsen Brees was born in Clinton, Iowa, the third of seven children. Kris had a presence that made people feel welcome. She was a storyteller with a warm, engaging personality—someone who could turn an ordinary moment into something worth remembering. Her humor, openness, and ability to connect with others were constants throughout her life.
In Wichita, she built a career marked by determination and care, rising from secretary to Director of Admissions at the Institute of Logopedics. She also devoted her time to the Rape Crisis Center, led Girl Scout troops, and worked with summer campers, forming easy bonds with young people and offering guidance with patience and understanding.

On April 14, 1979, she married Gary Brees in Wichita, and together they formed a blended family with her daughter, Barbara Jean Poe, and his son, Scott Brees. In 1984, the family moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where Kris explored a variety of jobs with curiosity and enthusiasm. One of her favorites was waitressing at Wings and Rings, where she enjoyed getting to know customers and often challenged them—playfully—to guess her middle name. (They never did: James.)

Kris lived with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic condition that brought many medical challenges. In 1990, she received Kansas’ first liver transplant at KU Medical Center. Kris and her entire family remain grateful for her donor. Nearly a decade later, she returned to KU as a registered nurse, caring for patients—especially children in Pediatrics—with deep compassion. She retired in 2020 after a long and meaningful career in service to others.

At home, Kris found joy in cooking, gardening, reading, music, and time spent with family. She enjoyed sharing stories of camping trips, Florida adventures, and family traditions over dinner -6:30 sharp! She loved watching sports with her husband- Kansas State University and the Chiefs. Kris and Gary would travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas to watch the horse races and to enjoy themselves with the same great friends, year after year.

Cooking and gardening were some of her greatest pleasures. During the spring and summer every Saturday she was at Soil Service finding the perfect flowers for her beautiful garden. Still, nothing brought her more happiness than her granddaughters, Kathryn and Rebecca Brees.

Kris taught her children many lessons, but one moment stood out: when she rushed to help a teenager struck by a car. Her instinct to move toward someone in need became a guiding principle for her family. She often said that kindness was her religion, and she lived by it every day.
She was an adventurer, an advocate for others, and a nurse who found deep purpose in her work at the Hope Center supporting people with HIV/AIDS. She was always ready for conversation, laughter, or a cup of coffee.

Kristine is preceded in death by her parents, James and Patricia Knudsen, and four of her siblings. She is survived by her beloved husband and friend, Gary Brees; her daughter and bestie, Barbara J.Poe (Chris Hermesch); her son that made her so proud, Scott Brees (Kendall Brees); her granddaughters, Kathryn and Rebecca; her cherished sisters, Patricia Greene and Karolyn Dacey; her honorary sister, Alice Cooper; and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
On Saturday, December 20th, in the shadow of the Winter Solstice, Kris took her last breath, leaving behind a legacy of generosity, humor, courage, and love. She will be deeply missed, and her spirit will continue to live on in the many lives she touched.

Please consider being an organ donor- it saves lives!
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gift of Life KC Giftdonor.org, Lakeside Nature Center lakesidenaturecenter.org or the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault MOCSA.org