Martin A Prasnicki, 91 of Gilman, died at home on December 28,
2016 under the care of Hope Hospice. He was born on
December 3, 1925 in Kane, Pennsylvania the son of the late
Alois and Agnes (Trulik) Prasnicki. The family moved to
Wisconsin in March of 1926 and settled in Gilman. Martin
attended Gilman public schools.
He enlisted in the US Navy in November of 1943. Martin did his
boot camp in Idaho then gunnery school in San Diego, CA for 5
weeks. Martin was then assigned as an armed guard on the
Merchant Marine ship SS Flying Mist as a 20MM gunner which
transported cargo and ammunitions to different islands in the
Pacific Ocean (7 trips). He ended his service as a dispatcher in
the motor pool at Pearl Harbor, HI. Martin was discharged May 6,
1946 with the rank of Coxswain.
On June 4, 1946 he came home to Gilman and bought a farm
two weeks later. Martin worked on the farm that he loved until
2013; after which time he moved to the Village of Gilman. Martin
not only farmed but also owned and operated a school bus for
37 years in the Gilman School District.
Martin married Margie Piwoni on July 10, 1948 at Saints Peter &
Paul Catholic Church in Gilman. She preceded him in death due
to an automobile accident on December 2, 1967. Martin married
Loretta Sromek on February 7, 1976 at Corpus Christi Catholic
Church in Cleveland, OH.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta of Gilman, his five children,
Gary Prasnicki and Susan Dailey both of Rochester, MN, Lorie
(Jimmy) Gwiazdon and Cheryl (Randy) Boone both of Eau Claire
and Mary (Steve) Davis of Richmond, Kentucky, four
grandchildren, Colin (Christa Anderson) and Caylee Boone,
Ryan (Katrina Nelson) Gwiazdon and Savannah Davis and two
brothers, Henry (Dorothy) Prasnicki of Big Stone Lake, South
Dakota and Phillip Prasnicki of Gilman. Martin is preceded in
death by his parents, 1st wife, Margie, one grandchild, baby
Alexandra Davis and nine siblings, Steve, Veronica, Mary,
Agnes, John, Michael, Barbara Perlock, Rose Gallett and Anne
Dylo.
A funeral mass will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, January 3,
2017 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church-Gilman with
Father Madanu Lourdu Raju officiating. Burial will follow in the
Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday, January 2nd from
5-7 PM at the Gilman Funeral Home with a 7PM Parish Rosary
and on Tuesday morning at church one hour prior to services.