William "Bill" Prellwitz

William C. “Bill” Prellwitz, 88, Topeka, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2013. He was one of ten children born to Julius and Mary Nutsch Prellwitz in Mahaska, Kansas on August 31, 1924. He graduated from Morrowville High School in 1943. Bill then entered the US Army in July of 1944 and rose to the rank of Sgt. and was assigned to the 232nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Rainbow Division. He was wounded at Wuerzburg and recovered at the 58th General Hospital in France. He then returned to his unit in Salzburg, Austria where he was part of a contingent responsible for guarding 7,000 to 8,000 war criminals. He was discharged in August of 1946. While serving his country in Germany he was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and World War II Honorable Service Pin. Bill married Orle Wells on August 17, 1946. She preceded him in death in January 1979. Bill farmed for a few years in Mahaska and Morrowville KS and then moved to Topeka in 1956, where he was then employed at Dupont for 27 years before retiring. He then went to work for Hayden Tower Service as shop foreman, retiring in 2009 at the age of 85. Bill was a founding member of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church and previously a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Topeka. He also held membership in the Knights of Columbus, Council #534, the Disabled Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Post 400. Bill is survived by three children, daughter, Joy of San Antonio; sons, Bob (Maggie) of Topeka and Mark (Cindy) of Topeka. He also leaves four grandchildren, Christy, Jason, PJ and Matt; five great-grandchildren, Mali, Maci, Maya, Kalen and Ryker; and seven brothers and sisters, Paul, Fred, LeRoy, Lucy, Marge, Dorothy and Pat. Preceding him in death were his parents, Julius and Mary, his brother, Len, and sister, Josephine, as well as his wife, Orle. Viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614, where a parish rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, 2014 NW 46th Street, Topeka KS 66618. Saturday, March 23, 2013, a second viewing will be from noon to 1 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 807 F Street, Fairbury NE 68352. Mass of Christian Burial will then be celebrated at 1 p.m. at the Church. Interment will follow in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Morrowville KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc. or to Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, sent in care of the funeral home.

William "Bill" Prellwitz

August 31, 1924 - March 17, 2013