Leona Pruisner

DIKE – Leona Pruisner, 95, passed away peacefully in the arms of family on May 13, 2024, wanting nothing more than to again be with her husband of over 73 years at the pearly gates. 

Visitation was held at Fredsville Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services were held at Fredsville Monday, May 20, 10:30 am with viewing an hour prior. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg and followed by a proper Lutheran funeral lunch.

Leona was born in Fern, on July 24, 1928, to Luke L. and Louise (Lizzie) (Schmidt) Aswegan, the youngest of five (Leonard, Louise, Luke & Lawrence). After finishing eighth-grade, Leona worked for area families and waitressed.

Leona married Donald Pruisner, on May 10, 1950, at Salem Lutheran Church north of Fern. They farmed side-by-side, eventually building their family farm operation northwest of Dike. Leona and Don raised four rambunctious boys and one girl with Leona in perpetual motion sewing everyone’s clothes, working in the fields, hauling grain, canning, farm chores, and crocheting full-time. Leona and Don were active in their churches, Salem Lutheran and then Fredsville Lutheran. When the last child went to college, they began wintering in south Texas, square dancing and playing cards till the cows came home. Leona worked twice as hard as people half her age, loved much and laughed often. She believed that a clean house is next to Godliness, practice makes perfect, pies must be baked every Saturday morning, church attendance is not an option but rather a requirement, and she might have expressed an opinion, or two.

Surviving Leona are four sons, Randy (Lorie) of Spirit Lake; Kendall (Peggy) of Clear Lake; Kevin (Pat) of Dike; Darwin (CoLeen) of Boulder, Colorado; and one daughter, Robin (Mark Venner) of McCallsburg; 10 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Leona was preceded in death by her husband Donald.

Memorials may be directed to Fredsville Lutheran Church, Dike Fire & EMS, or organization of your choice.