Donald Prechel

Donald Wilbert Prechel was born on October 24, 1927 in Brown County near Springfield, MN, the son of Louis and Lydia (Wendt) Prechel. He attended rural school. In 1936 his family moved to Comfrey and he worked with his father in the feed mill. In February of 1946 until August of 1947 he was in the Army; following his honorable discharge, he returned to Comfrey and helped at the feed mill. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Sprink on August 30, 1953 in Springfield. He worked for the Farmers Elevator and continued there for Cargill and Harvestland retiring in 1993 and helped out seasonally for several years. Don was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church and served on the Salem Cemetery Board, was a volunteer fireman for 32 years, a member of Brown Co. Triad, and was the maintenance man for the Comfrey Hospital - Health Care building for over 30 years. He enjoyed model airplanes, fishing, old cars, and fixing things. Don died on Sunday, May 9, 2010 at the St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield at the age of 82 years. He is survived by his wife - Mary Ann and their children - Jodi (Byron) Neilsen of Allen, TX, Jill Prechel of St. Cloud, MN, and Arlo (Brenda) Prechel of Litchfield, MN; 4 grandchildren - Jason, Kent, and Kyle Neilsen, and Becca Prechel; step grandchildren - Chad (Melissa) Gerdes, Amanda (Cale) Johnson, and Christina Gerdes and a special friend Eric Kadelbach; sisters - Yvonne (Lester) Schuelke of Richland Center, WI, Marion (Kay) Satterlie of Evansville, MN, and June (Lowell) Plagge of Young America, MN; brother-in-law - LeRoy Walters of Comfrey; and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; and a sister - Marjorie Walters.