James “Jim” Richard Prahl age 79 of Redwood Falls passed away Saturday March 2, 2013 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 5 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday AT THE CHURCH and will continue one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment is in the Redwood Falls Cemetery.. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
James “Jim” Richard Prahl was born July 15, 1933 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, to Fred and Laura (Schiller) Prahl. He was baptized in the Lutheran Faith in Sleepy Eye, and was confirmed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls in 1947. Jim attended country school, District 60 west of Redwood Falls. He played baseball on the Milroy and Belview VFW and American Legion baseball teams. At age 14, Jim stayed home from high school to care for his mother until her death. He later took over the family farm when he was just 17 years old. On July 4, 1953, Jim was united in marriage to Joyce Moody at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Lamberton, Minnesota. Together they made their home on the family farm six miles west of Redwood Falls. Jim farmed all of his life until he sold out in 1983. He worked at Jackpot Junction for a couple of years in the 1980’s, and also started a photography business and photographed many functions until 2005. Jim was a longtime member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls where he served on the Financial Board for 12 years. Jim acquired the nickname “Grumpy” from his grandchildren, and it stuck with him for over 20 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, shooting pool, and all sports; especially football, basketball, and Twins baseball.
Jim is survived by his children: Bradley (Nancy) Prahl, Jon Prahl, Sandy (Steven) Heiling all of Redwood Falls, and Susan (Rory) Seifert of Clements; grandchildren: Krista (Jesse) Remiger, David Prahl, Kevin Prahl, Kelsey Prahl, Stacy (Grant) Brostrom, Calvin Heiling (fiancée Stephanie Kennell), Tessa Heiling, Joseph (fiancée Candace) Seifert, and Amanda (Josh) Krenz; great-grandchildren: Morgan Strey, Jayden & Alexa Remiger, Catherine & Franklin Brostrom, and Caden Hall; brothers-in-law Bill (Faye) Moody of Alexandria and Roger (Karen) Moody of Long Lake; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Laura Prahl, wife Joyce in April of 2011, and sons Steve and Howard Prahl, sister Malinda Siegfried, brother Virgil (Sylvia) Prahl, brother Robert in infancy, and sister-in-law Jean (Richard) Sirmer.