Merlys “Bub” Prafke, 80
Fairmont Funeral Services for Merlys “Bub” Prafke, age 80, of Fairmont, were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Burial followed with full military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and the Martin County V.F.W. Post 1222 at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont.
Bub passed away Monday afternoon, Dec. 30, 2013, at his home in Fairmont.
Merlys Del “Bub” Prafke was born on Feb. 23, 1933, in Fairmont, the son of Arthur and Mildred (Larkin) Prafke. Bub grew up in Fairmont and graduated from Fairmont High School. After high school he entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 12, 1950, and served in the Airborne unit. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 11, 1953, and returned to Fairmont. On March 1, 1955, Bub was united in marriage to Lenagene Swanson at the Granada United Methodist Church. They made their home in Granada for a short time and moved to Fairmont in 1956. That same year, Bub started working for the Fairmont Public Utilities Water Department. In 1980 they moved back to Granada and lived on the Swanson family farm. He retired from the City of Fairmont Water Plant after 30 years of service in 1986. Bub and Lenagene moved to Prairie Avenue in Fairmont in December of 2010.
Bub was a member of the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and the Disabled American Veterans organization. Bub enjoyed collecting homecoming buttons, family genealogy, playing his guitar and enjoyed hobby farming.
Those that will cherish his memory include his wife, Lenagene Prafke, of Fairmont; daughters, Pamela (Craig) Olson, of Fairmont, Lori (Mert) Kutnink, of Fairmont, and Patty (Mike) Sohn, of Blue Earth; grandchildren, Colby Olson, Kacey Kasel (Jim), Tabitha Jeffries, Aaron Traver, Helena Zea (Mike), Michalia Cyphers (Kyle), Patrick Prafke (April), Andrew Kutnink, Chris Kutnink, Nicole Kutnink (Max), Jason Kutnink (Krista), Kelsey Kutnink, Travis Cyphers (Becky), Amanda Flohrs (Joey), and AngaLena Cyphers; 19 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Barb Gimm-Beaver; five nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Bub was preceded in death by one daughter in November of 2013, Cheryl Cyphers; granddaughter, Kasey Scheff; and brother, Verlon Prafke.