Russell Howard Pruehs 1921-1996

PRUEHS TROWBRIDGE CLARK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/20/2012 at 16:59:13

2 April 1996

CUSHING, Iowa - Russell Howard Pruehs, 75, of Cushing died March 31, 1996. He spent the last months of his life at Elmwood Care Center in Onawa.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Cushing with Pastor Dee Ann Klapp and the Rev. Douglas C. Opp officiating. Burial Will be in the Cushing Cemetery with military rites by Post 624, American Legion of Cushing. Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday with the family present 6 to 7 p.m. at the Barker Funeral Home in Holstein.

Mr. Pruehs was born March 7,1921, in Larchwood, the son of Julius John and Hetley Mary (Trowbridge) Pruehs. The family moved to Cushing in 1930. He graduated from the Cushing High School in May 1939 and attended Welding School in Omaha.

He entered the U.S. Army Jan. 24, 1942 and was assigned to the Army Air Corps. He served in the 4th Ferry Command until February 1945 when he served in the Marshall Island in the South Pacific. He was discharged Jan. 11, 1946, but was recalled in 1951 and served until 1952. He was a master sergeant.

On Jan, 20, 1945, he married Lorraine Clark at Senatobia, Miss.

He drove a school bus from 1946-1977 for Cushing School, later Eastwood School and from 1977 to 1986 he served as bus maintence chief for Galva-Holstein Community School. He also worked as a mechanic, joining his father in Pruehs Garage in February 1946 to 1977.

Mr. Pruehs was a member of the Sons of the American Legion, chairman of Woodbury County Veterans Commission and past commander of F Roger Baumann American Legion of Cushing. He was a member of the Cushing Fire Department and served as fire chief for 25 years. He was one of the first EMTs on the department and helped organize and served as president of the Tri-State Association.

He served on all levels of the American Legion and was post service officer for about 30 years, county commander 1954-54 and district commander in 1958. In 1978 he was elected to the board of directors of Iowa Boys State and served on the staff until 1994.

Mr. Pruehs was a member of the Correctionville VFW. He was a life long member of the First United Methodist Church,a member of Omaha VAVS Commission of the 40/8, a member of the Woodbury County Commission on Aging, a charter member of Ames Squadron, a member of the Iowa Fire Fighters Association and the Iowa. Pupil Transportation Association and was a substitine mail carrier in the late 50s.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter and her husband, Ann and John Crawford of Onawa; a granddaughter, Amy Phelps; a great-grandson; two step-granddaughters; Jenna Blake and Rena Crawford; two step-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jean Chapman of Chula Vista, Calif.