Prichard, James M. (1926-2012)

PRICHARD, MCMURTRY, YON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/29/2012 at 17:05:01

James M. Prichard
February 07, 1926 - May 13, 2012

Storm Lake, Iowa

James Prichard, age 86, of Storm Lake, passed away Sunday, May 13, 2012, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community.

James McMurtry Prichard was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on February 7, 1926. The son of James Skewis Prichard and Mary Fern (McMurtry) Prichard, he started kindergarten in Duluth, Minnesota, and continued his elementary education in Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1932, he moved with his family to Storm Lake where he attended North School. Jim graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1943 and a month later entered the Naval V-12 College Training Program. He was first sent to St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and then to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He was commissioned as ensign in 1945 and served in the Pacific on a PCE (Patrol Craft Escort) ship which had been converted to a weather ship. Because the longest serving officers were discharged first after the war ended, Jim found himself at age 19 second in command of seventy men.

Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant J.G., he entered the University of Iowa, graduating in 1947. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law and subsequently practiced law in Davenport and Des Moines.

On August 23, 1953, Jim married Eloise Yon of Storm Lake. To this union were born three children: James Y., Thomas W., and Jane E.

In 1957, Jim returned to Storm Lake with his family to practice law with Z. Z. White and Don C. White, an association that lasted until Z. Z. White's passing in 1980. A conscientious attorney, Jim always sought the best interests of his clients. Highly regarded by the legal community, he was known for his integrity.

The first president of the Methodist Manor, Jim served on its board for twenty years. He also served as president of the Storm Lake Industrial Development Corporation and as chairman of the Buena Vista County Republican Party and the Buena Vista County Red Cross. Jim was always an avid reader, especially concerning history and biography. He particularly enjoyed reading about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, whom he greatly admired and would often quote in particular circumstances. Also a fan of trains, he took numerous cross-country trips with Eloise on Amtrak. He was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church.

Preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Fern Prichard; and his brother, John; Jim is survived by his wife, Eloise; his children: Jim (Tammy), of Northfield, Minnesota, Tom (Lois), of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Jane, of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren: Megan Prichard, of Boca Raton, Florida, Eric Prichard, of Madison, Wisconsin, and Katie Prichard, of Durham, England, as well as by Sean, Faith, Ryan, and Emma Prichard, all of Northfield, Minnesota, and Julia, Ellen, Joel, and Anna Prichard, all of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also survived by his brother, Phil (Delaine) Prichard, of Davenport, Iowa; his sister-in-law, Carol Prichard, and brother-in-law, Wyatt Yon, both of Storm Lake; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 4:00-7:00 p.m., May 20, 2012, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., May 21, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: May 21, 2012, at the Storm Lake Cemetery.

Copyright © 2012, Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home

Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
 

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