There will be an Open House, Celebration of Life in honor of the late Harry Pruis, on Saturday, June 26, 2021, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The gathering will be at the Brick Block Pub, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Due to Main Street renovation, enter Happy Joe’s Pizza from Market Street (the back door.) His 2020 obituary follows.
Harry Jay Pruis, age 80 from Thomson, IL, formerly of Morrison, IL, died Friday, November 27, 2020, at Mercy One Hospital in Clinton, IA
Harry was born in Morrison, to Jacob Pruis and Nellie (Barsema) Pruis Douma, on February 9, 1940. There was a blizzard the day he was born, as his mother liked to tell him every year on his birthday. He was raised in rural Morrison and attended Morrison schools. After high school Harry joined the U. S. Army and eventually served in Germany. He married Marlene Stern in Morrison and had three children. They later divorced. He married Eileen Webb in Morrison in 1981, and they had a daughter together.
Harry worked at Volkman Furniture in Morrison, Drives in Fulton, IL, and Micro Industries in Rock Falls, IL, before starting the business of P & P Tool Company with his brother, Warren, in Morrison. They worked for many years together, expanding the company. Harry retired from the business in 1995 and went on to do other things. He was very proud of the work he did, no matter what it was. Harry served as a Firefighter for the Morrison Fire Department from 1968 to 1986.
Harry said he always wanted to try everything in life at least once. He may not have tried everything, but he did his best putting a big dent in life. Boating, fishing, hunting, flying, motorcycling, horse racing, trucking, 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, RV-ing, golfing–you name it, he gave it his best shot. He would take his children on these adventures as much as he could. There’s just not enough time .Harry greatly enjoyed Happy Fridays with best friends. That was one of his favorite things.
Harry is survived by his wife of 39 years, Eileen; daughters, Cheryl Bush of Morrison, Nora Pruis (Charles Gatz) of Dallas, TX; son, Timothy Pruis (Marlene Franzen) of Calamus, IA. He had five grandchildren, Brent, Ryan, and Typhani Pruis and Tara and Jason Bush; seven great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Alva and Vernon (Doc) Sikkema of Carroll, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Janet Pruis of Birch Run, MI, and Warren and Marcia Pruis of Morrison; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father; Charles Douma; son, Robert Pruis; sister, Lois Yarbrough.
There was no Visitation. He received a private burial in Smith Cemetery, Clinton, IA.
Pape Funeral Home in Clinton, IA, assisted the family.
Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.