James Robert Pruden Sr.

James Robert Pruden Sr., lifelong resident of LaPorte, Indiana, born on January 11, 1922, entered Heaven at the age of 94 on October 21, 2016.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he was an altar boy.  He was one of ten children and had to drop out of school in his junior year to help his parents support the household.  Later in life, he earned his GED.

He was a man of many innate talents.  He served in WWII in the Navy as a top-notch aircraft mechanic.  On a blind date, he met the light of his life, a volunteer Red Cross Nurse’s Aide, Elizabeth (Betty) Weiler.  They were married and raised a family of nine children in LaPorte.

He built a house for his family on Route 2 where they lived for many years before moving to a bigger house on Lincolnway as their family grew.  He worked many jobs in his life to support his family, often simultaneously.  He was an entrepreneur who started and ran a successful business, Pruden Floor Covering in LaPorte, until he retired in 1982.  On the side, he was a test track driver at Studebaker, fixed and flipped cars and slowly acquired rental properties which he renovated and managed.

He enjoyed dancing with his wife, loved to play cards with their card club group and games with his family.  He enjoyed riding bikes and playing Frisbee with his kids and showing off his trick shots in pool.  He also sponsored and played on Pruden Floor Covering Bowling team for many years.  He admired Arnold Palmer and was an avid golfer for much of his life.  In retirement, he travelled annually to visit his children and friends, in California, Hawaii and even Thailand.

He was a traditional man of honor and integrity, an exceptional role model and teacher for his children.  He was a perfectionist in all of his work and had a dry sense of humor that affectionately earned him the name “Smiley”.  He was loved and admired by his family, friends, customers and work associates.  He is now reunited with his lifetime love Betty, and his namesake, James Pruden Jr.

He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Riley of Indianapolis, IN; eight children, Barbara Wong of Auburn, CA, Michael (Pat) Pruden of LaPorte, IN, Mary Stucker of San Bruno, CA, Roger (Debbie) Pruden of LaPorte, IN, Loretta Smith of Oakland, CA, Jerry Pruden of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Jeff (Tammy) Pruden of Eureka, CA, and Lisa (Keith) Campbell of Concord, CA.  His son, James Robert Pruden Jr. of Reno, Nevada, predeceased him on June 5, 2016 and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Pruden predeceased him on July 10, 2011.  He leaves eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be held in the spring of 2017 for James Pruden Sr. and James Pruden Jr.

Arrangements by; Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, ESSLING CHAPEL, 1117 Indiana Avenue, LaPorte, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

To send condolences online, please visit Essling Funeral Home.com.

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