John F. Prueher, 91, Bristow

John F. Prueher, 91, of Bristow, passed away on August 4, 2024, at Memorial Hospital in Jasper.

John was born on July 27, 1933, in Linton, Indiana, to Fred H. and Bess (Cooley) Prueher.

He was united in marriage to Mercedes “Lena” Bauer on July 28, 1956, in St. Martin Of Tours Church. 

John owned and operated Prueher’s Greenhouse, first in Troy from 1960 until 1978 and then in Bristow from 1978 until 2005. He was an Army veteran who served during the Korean War and a member of St. Martin of Tours Parish.

John enjoyed gardening and loved animals. 

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mercedes “Lena” Prueher; four sons, Ralph Prueher, Jeff Prueher, and Roger (Claire) Prueher, all of Bristow, and Fred (Randi) Prueher of St. Croix; five daughters, Jolena Smith of Utica, Ky., Linda (Tony) Mahaney, and Sharon (Rick) Taylor, both of Bristow, Debbie (Albert) Rahman of Martinsville, and Rita Gehlhausen of Huntingburg; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons-in-law, Steve Smith and Verlyn Gehlhausen, and a half-brother, Raymond Schmuck. 

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. CDT in St. Martin Of Tours Catholic Church in Siberia, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand on Thursday, August 8t, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. CDT and on Friday from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. CDT at the church in Siberia.

Online condolences may be shared at www.becherfuneralhome.com.