Gertrude Ruth Prebeck

Gertrude was born in Memel, Prussia (now Lithuania) on January 20, 1937. Due to World War II conflicts in her area, she was forced to immigrate to Germany, where her family settled. In Germany she met the love of her life and husband of 62 years, Otto Prebeck. After they wed, they immigrated to the United States and settled in the suburbs of New York City.

She worked as an executive bookkeeper all the while raising her two children. She enjoyed taking care of her family, socializing with her friends and going on vacations. Gertrude retired when she was 67 at which point, she began traveling even more and spending more time with her children and grandchildren.

She was a woman of strong faith and was a longtime member of Saint Andrews Lutheran Church in Yorktown Heights and also attended a Lutheran Church in Florida and Chapin Christian Community Church.

Gertrude was predeceased by her parents, Martin and Anna Loebardt; her brothers, Hans, Walter, Willi and Herman, and her sister, Margeret. She is survived by her two children, Thomas and William Prebeck; daughters-in-law, Adrienne and Niove; and grandchildren, Nicole, Emily, Tommy, Kenny, and Danny.

A memorial service will be held for Gertrude at Chapin Christian Community Church, 415 Lexington Avenue, Chapin, SC 29036, on August 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate).