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John R. Pruss, 58

Former Blair resident John R. Pruss, 58, died after a long battle with cancer Oct. 25, 2005, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D.

A memorial gathering was held in Sioux Falls at the Heart Hospital of South Dakota on Oct. 31. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in O’Neill.

He was the son of Ivan and Eleanor Pruss and grew up in O’Neill. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in O’Neill in 1965. He was working at Avera McKennan Hospital and the Heart Hospital.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Brian and Mary Pruss of Sioux Falls, and Brennan and Tina Pruss of Rapid City, S.D., Mike Pruss of Manhattan, Kan.; mother, Eleanor Pruss of O’Neill; sisters and brothers-in-law, Beth and Pat Regan of Ewing, Jeanie and Bruce Waldo of Amelia; sister-in-law and husband, Mary and Bill Pruss of Wahoo; and four grandchildren.

He was eternally grateful for the time he was able to spend with his fiancé, Katie Kean of Sioux Falls, and couldn’t imagine the last few months without her. He loved to ride his Harley and they were able to make one last long ride up into Canada in August. He also wanted to thank all those who visited and supported him in his final months.

He was preceded in death by his father, and a brother, Bill.

Memorials are suggested to the Avera McKennan Hospital Program.

Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home of Wahoo is in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~