John Thomas Prentki

John Thomas Prentki, 97, of 619 Laurel Lake Drive, Columbus, died Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at home in Tryon Estates.
Born in Lackawanna, NY, he was the son of John T. Prentki, Sr. and Jane Tojek Prentki. He was the third of four children; Walter, Rose, and Eugene, all died before him. He was preceded in death in 2010 by his wife Lucile Ann Prentki, his high school sweetheart, 69 years after their marriage on July 4, 1940. His career specialty was financial management. He was the youngest Certified Public Accountant in Michigan, obtaining his certification at the age of sixteen. In World War II, he headed audits for Contract Termination for the Army's CWD Southern Region, reaching rank of Captain. Most recently prior to retirement he was Comptroller for Photo Lettering in New York and played an important role in the formation of International Typeface Corporation (ITC), founded to design, license and market typefaces for filmsetting and computer set types internationally.
Surviving are his five children, two daughters, Jonnie Herr of Georgia and Rene Katsinas of Alabama; three sons, Richard Prentki of Alaska, Kerry Prentki of Mexico, and James Prentki of New York; also nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept 19 in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon, NC with Father Arnsparger officiating.
A visitation will be Sunday, September 18, 5-7 p.m. with rosary at 5 p.m. in the McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, NC.
Burial will be at 10 AM Tuesday, September 20 in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.
A memorial service will be held at Tryon Estates September 28 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, NC 28722 or to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 180 Laurel Avenue, Tryon, NC 28782.
An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, NC