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Photo of Mary Ellen (Borcherding) Pralle

Mary Ellen (Borcherding) Pralle

1/30/1933 - 1/1/2017


Obituary


Mary Ellen Pralle, 83, of Hampton and formerly of Latimer, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2017 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. Funeral services for Mary Ellen Pralle will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 304 West Main Street in Latimer with Pastor Travis Berg officiating.  Burial will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Latimer. Visitation for Mary Ellen Pralle will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, January 6, 2017 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Mary Ellen (Borcherding) Pralle was born January 30, 1933 to Lester and Martha (Hinrichs) Borcherding in Hampton, where she lived with her family until moving to a farm north of Latimer on her 6th birthday. Mary Ellen attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School beginning in first grade, graduating in 1947, followed by Franklin Consolidated High School in Latimer, where she graduated with the class of 1951. Following graduation, Mary Ellen worked at the high school as a secretary. Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Roy William Pralle on December 27, 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer. Roy served in the United States Army, so the couple moved around the country for the next 13 ½ months prior to returning to the farm in February of 1954. Mary Ellen’s faith was central in her life, she was a very active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was also a member of LWML, PTL, LLL and AAL, as well as the cemetery society and was a strong supporter of St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Latimer, where her children attended. She will be remembered as a faithful and loving wife and mother. Mary Ellen enjoyed sewing, gardening and canning fruits and vegetables. Mary Ellen is survived by her daughters, Nancy (Steve) Junge of Johnston, Sue (Dave) Hansen of Masonville, Kathie McGinnis of Johnston, Rhonda (Gene) Yee of Wauconda, Illinois, Linda (Robert) Dietz of Dows, and Karen (Bob) Formanek of Urbandale; daughter-in-law Sara (Pralle) Keehn; grandchildren Jason Junge, Bryan (Kristina) Junge, Megan Junge, Chris Hansen, Nicole Hansen, Leslie Pralle, Angela (Michael) Burton, Michelle Pralle, Nathan McGinnis, Korie McGinnis, Brett McGinnis, Jordan Dietz, Carter Dietz, Sophie Dietz, Noah Christensen and Celeste Christensen; great-grandchildren Everett, Amira, Alex, Blake, Jaxson, Sage, Rylee, Aaden, and Easton and another on the way; along with one brother, James Borcherding of Belmond. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Laurie in infancy, son Steven, husband Roy, and son-in-law Doug McGinnis.