Kathleen “Kay” Lapp James, of Wisconsin Dells, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 at the age of 74.
Born on May 10, 1950, in Milwaukee, Kay was the daughter of Ivan and Lilian (Colburn) Lapp. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW-Madison and received her master’s degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern in 1979.
Kay was a reporter for the Seneca News in Seneca, S.C., where she met her husband, Randall James. They had one son, John Ivan James.
She went on to work for a company in Atlanta which published medical newsletters. Kay returned to Wisconsin and later started a business, the “Words”. She was later employed by the Portage Daily Register and became editor of both the Daily Register and Dells Events until her retirement. She also taught journalism classes at the UW Extension campus in Baraboo.
In her retirement she volunteered with the Friends of the Kilbourn Public Library and was a member of the Dells Country Historical Society and Tuesday Club; served on the boards of the Friends of the HH Bennett Studio and Beacon House; and was a proud member of the Big Spring Congregational Church.
She is survived by her sister, Marilyn (Larry) Belter; and sister-in-law, Mary Lapp; nephews and one niece, as well as great nieces.
A memorial service was held Nov. 30, 2024. The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells assisted the family with arrangements; for condolences and information, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.
