John Mitchell Prangley

PRANGLEY - John Mitchell Prangley, age 79, passed away suddenly October 28, 2000, at his current residence in Albuquerque, NM. John, a 1940 graduate of Catholic Central High School, maintained a conscientious work ethic his entire life and believed very strongly in service to God, community and devotion to family. He began working in retail grocery sales at a very young age and after graduation combined that with his artistic abilities working as a window dresser for the former Peck’s Drug Store in Grand Rapids.

John, as did many others, responded to the patriotic call of duty and spent 38 months in the service of the United States Army, which culminated in distinguished service with the 87th Engineers Corps in the European Theatre during WWII.

After the war, John returned home to raise his family in Grandville and continued in retail sales working as Produce Manager for many of the major grocery chains in the Grand Rapids area over the next 44 years. During this time, he won many regional and national awards for the artistic displays he created.

As the community began to grow, John was one of the charter members instrumental in the establishment of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Grandville. When the congregation outgrew that facility, they called on him again to spearhead the fund drive to build the current sanctuary.

John was also active in civic life winning election to the Grandville City Council for three terms in 1965. In 1971, he was elected mayor and again won election for three consecutive terms. He also served on various committees: as legislative representative to the Michigan Municipal League; member of the Public Works Committee of the Michigan Municipal League; Fifth District delegate for the Small Cities Alliance; Vice Chairman and Chairman for the Association of Grand Rapids Area Governments, Chairman of GRETS Organization; member of the Grandville Fair Housing Board; and he was a member of the Lions Club and Grandville Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Prangley was preceded in death by his son Michael and grandson Tyler Sterman. John will be mourned and sorely missed by his wife, Dorothy; his brothers, Leslie and Thomas Prangley; his children, John Jr., Pamela, Terry, and Richard Prangley; Kathy Todd; Stephen Sally, Thomas, James Kathy, and Brian Holly Prangley; Patricia Terry Sterman; 14 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and the many relatives and friends who knew him.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home-Grandville 4235 Prairie St. SW. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 10 a.m., November 3, followed by a Military Honors Ceremony and interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. If you are unable to attend the service of visitation, please sign the family’s memory book at www.webobit.com.

Visitation November 02, 2000 1:04 AM to 9:00 PM Cook Funeral Home, Inc. - Grandville Chapel 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI (616) 534-7619

Funeral Service November 03, 2000 10:00 AM St. Pius X Catholic Church 3937 Wilson Avenue SW Grandville, MI (616) 532-9344

Interment Friday November 03 2000 Resurrection Cemetery - Wyoming 4100 Clyde Park SW Wyoming, MI (616) 531-9320

Funeral Home Service Cook Funeral Home, Inc. - Grandville Chapel 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI (616) 534-7619