James Leo Kainer

James Leo Kainer passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2020.

James, loving husband and father, also affectionately known as “Coach,” was born Sept. 17, 1960 in Weimar to Leo and Viginia (Wagner) Kainer.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leo Kainer, his grandparents, John and Elizabeth Kainer; and wife’s parents, Charlie Joe and Margaret Wagner.

James is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his four children, Keaton, Taylor, Rachel and Jacob; his mother, Virginia; and his siblings, Sandra, Mark, Roger and Terri; their spouses; and numerous nieces and nephews.

James spent his formative years in Katy. He attended Katy High School, where he played football. James was proud to share his love of football and athletics with his son, Jacob. Jacob, along with countless other young men, was fortunate enough to have James as a coach for several sports. Although James was not a coach for Keaton, Taylor and Rachel, he was a fierce advocate of their successes and proudly shared in their personal and professional achievements. Those who knew James knew him as a pensive and sensitive man, but one who loved making others laugh and had a great sense of humor. He will be remembered for his witty sarcasm and caring nature – he was well-known for putting others’ needs before his own and had an uncanny ability to make a person feel like part of the family.

As family was his most important priority, James was a dedicated provider for them. From the moment he took on his first paper route at age 11, he worked hard on personal and professional growth allowing him to build a successful career. From 1988-99, he was employed by Randall’s. James not only built a foundation for his career, but also met his wife Elizabeth at Randall’s. After holding several other commercial real estate positions, James proudly held the title of executive vice president at Guggenheim Partners, where he worked for 14 years. Beyond his professional career, James’ true title was that of “Coach.” He helped players excel on and off the field; he wanted his players and his children to grow up to be great athletes, but more importantly, great people.

His greatest legacy was not only his family, but also the positive impact he had on so many others through his involvement in the community. The outpouring of love and support that his family receive is evident of how many lives James impacted.