John F. Prueher, 91, of Bristow passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in Jasper. John was born on July 27, 1933 in Linton, to Fred H. and Bess (Cooley) Prueher. He was united in marriage with 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. John was an Army Veteran during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Martin of Tours Parish.
John enjoyed gardening and was an animal lover.
Survivors include 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 and 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, at 10 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 8, from 3 to 7 p.m. CDT and on Friday from 9 until 10 a.m. CDT at the church in Siberia. Condolences may be shared at www.becherfuneralhome.com.
