Desert Messenger

August 8, 2018 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 In Memoriam John Richard Prutch went to be with the Lord on August 23rd, 2017 at Banner Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona. He was diagnosed on May 16th, 2017 with Stage 4 Lung Can- cer. He was surrounded in love by family throughout his last months. He was born July 7th, 1941, in Walsenburg, Colorado, to the late Carl and Jennie (Sammartino) Prutch. He graduated from Reseda High School in 1959 and enlisted in the Navy soon after, serving as an EM2 aboard the Kennebec. Upon his return to the states, John mar- ried his high school sweetheart, Claudia Olin and soon after moved his family to Lompoc, California. He worked as a master electrician at Vandenburg Air Force Base. Wanting a better life for their fam- ily, they decided to leave the ever- growing California and relocated to Lebanon, Oregon, where John continued his trade, fi rst at Wah Chang and soon after at Western Kraft. During this time, they raised their children on a 20-acre farm in Lacomb, Oregon. John and Claudia took a bare piece of ground and cre- ated a life for their family. Using his own hands and ingenuity, John built a pole barn, laid roads, plowed fi elds, and raised livestock with the help of his wife and children. His hard work and dedication to his family was evi- dent in everything he did. From there the family moved to Cen- tralia, Washington, to work their own business, The Power Shop on Harri- son Avenue along with the attached Harrison RV and Mobile Home Park. John was known throughout Centra- lia as an honest man who could fi x just about everything. After a very sad divorce, he even- tually moved back to Albany, Ore- gon, and resumed working at West- ern Kraft. It was during this time he met Cheryl Riley and asked her to join him and move to Quartzsite, Arizona, where he purchased a mo- bile home park for all of those snow- birds; Desert Edge RV Park. He had high hopes for his new home, community and put his heart and soul into his involvement there. He was joined in Quartzsite by Cher- yl's mom Bert and his father and mother, Carl and Jennie. As they became older, John and Cheryl lov- ingly looked after them until their passing. For many years, John was the town's building inspector. Due to his integrity and honesty, he was offered the job as town manager. John embraced the opportunity and was an integral part of building up the town of Quartzsite. He also actively served on the board of the Quartzsite Fire Department for over 20 years. He was proud of his work there and left a lasting impact. John was a loyal husband, an hon- orable son, and a kind friend. He was a supportive uncle to his broth- er's children who lost their father at a young age. John was a loving fa- ther and grandfather who instilled hard work, honesty, perseverance, loyalty, and an undisputed sense of unconditional love. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing him knew that they could go to him any- time for advice, help, or just a shoul- der to lean on. He led by example and was always there to lend a help- ing hand if needed. Though spread across the country, his children and grandchildren knew that his sage advice, knowledge, and love were just a phone call away. John's survivors include his wife Cheryl Riley, his children Torrey Lee Maxwell, Patty Lee Qualey, Matthew Carl Prutch, Heidi Wink, and grandchildren Wendy Jo Cow- ard, Robert Dennis Maxwell III, Tachelle Turner, Ashley Turner Bar- nett, Joseph Qualey, Bailey Reese Prutch, Grace Marie Qualey, and Gaven Prutch, He is also survived by his brother David Prutch, his Uncle John Sammartino, 11 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, numerous other family members and people whose lives he touched over his years on this earth. His brother Sammy Prutch preceded him in death. He is missed. He was deeply loved by many. He will be remembered always. You are invited to go to www.leg- acy.com where you can leave your condolences, memories, stories for all to read and share it will be a place that others can visit. It will be especially nice for his children and grandchildren to read stories of lives he has touched or adventures he may have had that are unknown to them. A delayed Celebration of Life will be held August 25th, 2018 at 11am at Station Hill Church in Spring Hill Tennessee. All are welcomed to at- tend. October 12, 1919 – July 11th, 2017 QUARTZSITE, AZ | Jennie Prutch, 97, of Quartzsite, Arizona, passed away July 11th, 2017 at her home in Quartzsite. She was born October 12th 1919, in Trinidad, Colo., the daughter of Sal- vatore and Pauline Samartino. She married Carl J Prutch and they had three sons; John, Samuel and Da- vid. She was a devout Catholic who experienced a deep love for Christ. She enjoyed cooking, spending time with her family, and a good romance novel. Jennie was a friend to all and loved a good game of cards. She was the true matriarch of the family never forgetting to send a birthday card to her kids, grandkids, broth- er, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews and all their kids. Jennie is survived by her son John (John passed 8-23-17 from Stage 4 Lung Cancer) and David both of Quartzsite, her brother, John (Ba- bette) Samartino, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great- grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all whom she dearly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, her son Sam- uel, and sisters, Josephine, Ann, Grace, Nellie and Ella and her baby brother Alex. John Richard Prutch Jennie Prutch Desert Messenger offers FREE Classifi ed Ads! Here's the small print: Items for sale under $1000. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found, etc. (non-commercial) For more information, contact Rain at 928-916-4235 or Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com

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