Obituary of Walter Prescher

A funeral service for Walter Prescher, age 92, of Spirit Lake, will be held Friday, January 4, 2013 at 2:30pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be on Friday starting at 12:30pm at the church. Burial is at Memory Gardens in Spirit Lake. Walter E. Prescher passed away December 31, 2012 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, IA at the age of 92 years. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great and great great grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and dear friend to so many. He was born on September 27, 1920 the third son of Herman and Lillian (Eckhard) Prescher at the family home. After attending elementary school in Blue Earth and Elk River, Minnesota, he left school to help his family run the Prescher's Dairy business in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Walter married Geraldine S. Hamre on December 1, 1940 in Mason City, Iowa. They moved to Estherville, Iowa in 1941 where he was employed by Estherville Packing Company, later Tobin Packing House and finally John Morrell Company. He had been employed there for 41 years. For many years he was the pitcher for the companies softball team. He started the Morrell Estherville Employee's Credit Union, now the Employees Credit Union, and was its' president for several years. He was always proud of the growth and development of this credit union. For many years, he sold cars at Motor Inn in Estherville and considered the Heywood family a part of his family. In June of 1944, Walter was drafted into World War II and was MIA and POW. He was Staff Sergeant in the 399th Infantry Regiment 100th Division. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge, World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unity Commendation Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, US Department of Defense Medal and US Department of Defense Bronze Star Medal. He was presented with most of these medals at his 80th Birthday party in 2000. In 1997, his life time wish of returning to Germany to walk the battle fields on which he had fought and to revisit the prison camp where he spent many days was realized. In November 2009 he was honored to travel with other WW II Veterans on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC to view the WW II memorial and other sites. When Walter and Geraldine retired they moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa where he most recently resided. They enjoyed their travels to family all over the US and especially seeing their grandchildren grow up and being an active part of their lives. Walter loved to play the piano and sing with his brothers at family gatherings. He sang with the Estherville Men's chorus for many years. He also enjoyed golfing, going to the casino's (where he always won) and playing cards at the Senior Center with his Spirit Lake friends. Walter was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. As family patriarch, Walter was a family tower of strength who relied upon the Word of God and made every moment a memory or a lesson in life. He was an active member of The American Legion Post #384 in Milford, Iowa. Proceeding Walter in death were his loving wife, Geraldine S. Prescher (1993), an adoring twin daughter Diane Bappe (1997), father and mother, A. Herman and Lillian Prescher, brothers Arlo and sister-in-law Adeline Prescher, Frebert Prescher and sister-in-law, Mavis Nicholas. Additionally, father-in-law and mother-in-law Andrew and Mabel Hamre, brothers-in-law Jay Spencer, Milford Hamre, Craig Weston, George Leininger, Arlington Schaeffer, sisters-in-law, Margarite Schaeffer and Ruth Spencer and niece, Judith Ross. Walter is survived by his loving sons, Gene (Sharon) Prescher of Reno, NV, Lonnie Prescher of Daphne, AL and twin daughter Donna (Hylem) Bahry of Uniontown, OH. The grandchildren which he adored Gena (Jeff) Wood, Kai Prescher, Marne (Andy) Berkvan, Amy Newland, Jill Newland, Co Bappe, Tera (Paul) Macmanus. He also had 8 great grandsons, 15 great granddaughters and one great great granddaughter. He also leaves sisters-in-law Joan Hamre, Evelyn Leininger, Janice Weston, many loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers and in support of our US Veterans, memorials may be sent to the Sioux Falls VA, 2501 W. 22nd St. PO Box 5046, Sioux Falls, SD or Honor Flight South Dakota, PO Box 947, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. A very special thank you to the staff at the Sioux Falls, SD VA who took such wonderful care of dad over the years. The family would especially like to say a special thank you to caregivers Katie Gilmore (PA), Denise (RN), Susan (CNP) and housekeeper Mary. The family would also like to thank the nurses and staff at the Community Health Center in Hartley.