James "Jim" Milburn Green

James "Jim" Milburn Green

10/17/1930 – 8/15/2024

James "Jim" Milburn Green was born on October 17, 1930, in Shamrock, Texas.  After many vibrant and healthy years, he died peacefully at age 93 in Milwaukee, WI.   

Jim is survived by his partner of 40 years, Susan Kraeblen, his daughter Beth (Jason Newsom); son Andrew; five grandchildren (Christian, Taylor, Madison, Zeta, and Eleanor); four great-grandchildren (Audrey, Harper, Charlotte, and Lilly); many nieces and nephews; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents (Charles and Lois Green) and an older brother (Jeff Green).  

Jim’s life of learning began at Baylor University.  After graduating, he went on to the Louisville American Baptist Seminary.  He finished his divinity training at the University of Chicago and then took a job as minister for a small church in Mt. Carroll, Illinois.  During Jim’s time there, he also taught at Shimer College - a progressive place of higher learning where students studied “The Great Books” and participated in the college’s governance.  He met many like-minded people at the College and they became his friends for life.  While in Mt. Carroll, Jim also met and married his first wife (Jane Cain) and their two children were born in the town.

Jim left Mt. Carroll to take a teaching job at the University of Richmond, and also served as an interim pastor at a church in Richmond, Virginia.  He was asked to leave that post after reading “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” in lieu of a sermon.  Jim’s decision to do this was true-to-form; he wanted to live a life that actively tried to achieve social justice.  Jim completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.  In 1970, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to become Assistant Dean of the Graduate School at Marquette University.  He lived in Milwaukee for the rest of his life — but he never lost his Texas drawl or his taste for Tex-Mex food. 

Divorced in 1974, Jim co-parented his two children, and was a loving and active father.  Andrew and Beth fondly remember how he made sourdough waffles every weekend, read Charlotte’s Web to them, and enthusiastically attended their many soccer games, recitals, and musical performances.   

In 1982, Jim met Susan Kraeblen and she became his life partner.  They lived together at their home on the east side of Milwaukee until his death.  With Susan, he shared his love of music and good food, along with a commitment to education and social change.  In 2000, they became active members of Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Jim was an avid bicyclist long before it became popular, riding his bike to work year-round in 1970’s.  When he retired in 1995, he went on a 4-month solo bike trip that covered 4,000 miles from Texas to northern Maine. He stopped along the way to visit old friends and family but he also connected with locals.   Jim often pitched his tent in church yards, chatted with locals over coffee, and as a result was often provided a “real bed” or offered refuge from stormy weather.   For many years, Jim was a member of the “Sprocket Rockets” — a group of cyclists who annually rode 150 miles to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.  He was the oldest member to ride with the team (85 years), accompanying them as their “Goodwill Ambassador.”  For Jim, it was harder to give up his beloved bicycle than to give up his car.

Jim was one of those rare individuals who was able to bring his values into both his personal and work life.  In the 1970’s he led a neighborhood group working to integrate the Milwaukee Public Schools.  He chose to enroll his children in a magnet school/bussing program instead of the local elementary school, and often met with school principals if there were policies or practices he felt should be changed.  At Marquette and later at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Jim was inclined to find ways around the rules that posed barriers to students pursuing their education.  He made a real difference in the lives of many of these students. 

Even after retiring, Jim continued to live a life of helping others.  His weekly schedule was filled with volunteer work at Habitat for Humanity, Sojourner Truth House, and the Affiliated Medical Services clinic.  He made friends in all of these places — but it was his long-time service with Habitat’s electrical team that led to his closest friendships.  At Immanuel, Jim was a vocal advocate for using the resources of the church to help those in need — whether it meant offering shelter to homeless people; providing funds or food for the hungry; or helping people suffering from addiction.

Jim’s life was marked by the many small ways he impacted those around him.  He will be missed by all those who knew him. 

In this spirit, Jim requested that any gifts in his memory be made to Meta House, an addictions treatment and support center for women and their families, or to Immanuel Presbyterian Church.  

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