Bert Rudy Pranke 1871-1944

PRANKE, HALGRIMS, JOHNSON, WALLER, ONIEL, ONEILL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/16/2013 at 01:14:43

Burt [Bert] R. Pranke Dies At Home of Daughter
Burt R. Pranke, 73, died at 5 p.m. today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Johnnie Johnson of High Lake, following an illness of a year. He had lived at the Johnson home three years.

He is survived by his daughter, by two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Waller of Minneapolis and Mrs. Ed. O’Neill of Orange, Calif., and by a brother, Will Pranke, of Santa Anna, Calif. He was born Feb. 5, 1871, at Charles City.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1:30 at the home, at 2 p.m. in the Wallingford Lutheran church and burial will be in Riverside cemetery, with the Rev. L.G. Hinderaker as pastor. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, March 2, 1944)

Obituary
Funeral services were held from the Wallingford Lutheran church last Saturday for Mr. Bert Rudy Pranke, father of Mrs. Johnnie Johnson. Services were conducted by the Rev. A.C. Anderson. The Mixed Quartet of the Immanuel Lutheran Church sang two numbers and Mrs. Sherman Gunderson sang a solo. The following men served as pallbearers: Oscar Peterson, Nels Johnson, Ole Refsell, Charley Hash, Ed Iverson and Bastie Jacobson.

Bert Rudy Pranke, son of John and Pauline Pranke, was born February 5th, 1871 at Charles City, Iowa. He was baptized in the Lutheran Faith. He received his education in the Charles city schools and when a young man he began working in the hardware business, first in Iowa and later at Red Wood Falls, Minnesota.

In 1898 he was united in marriage to Rose Halgrims at Thor, Iowa. To this union one daughter, Thelma (now Mrs. Johnnie Johnson) was born. In 1905 Mr. Pranke moved to Des Moines and travelled for the Keith Furnace Company for 37 years. Later he spent some time at Long Beach, Calif. For several years he did not know the whereabouts of his daughter, Mrs. Johnnie Johnson; but fortunately he secured her correct address and the father and daughter were brought together again. Much of the time during the past three years was spent at the home of his daughter and family.

Mr. Pranke was of a quiet nature and won for himself many friends. He confessed faith in Jesus. He confessed faith in Jesus as his Savior and was a faithful attendant in the House of God.

He had been in failing health for the latter years; but took seriously sick in the middle of December and steadily grew worse. He died of a cancer. He was given the best of care both medically and by a nurse; but suffered a great deal the last three weeks. However, he never lost faith in God and prayed often to be taken. The last words he spoke to his daughter were these: “I want to pray.” May these words linger long with you who were especially near to him, and may the example of a praying grandfather draw your hearts nearer to Jesus. He passed away Thursday morning, March 2nd, 1944 at the age of 73 years and 26 days at the Johnnie Johnson home. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers. He leaves to mourn his passing, his daughter, Mrs. Johnnie Johnson, 6 grandchildren; 2 great- granddaughters; 2 sisters: Mrs. Elizabeth Waller of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Ed O’Niel of Orange, Calif.; one brother, Will Pranke of Santa Ana, Calif.; besides a number of other relatives and many friends.

Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies,
Heavn’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Blessed be his memory! (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 9, 1944)