Name: Visitation for Fr. Francis Paul Prucha
Start: 2015-08-03T23:00:00.000Z
End: 2015-08-04T00:00:00.000Z
Location: San Camillo Chapel

Prucha, Fr. Francis Paul, S.J. Was called to eternal life during his sleep on July 30, 2015. He was the oldest member of the Wisconsin Province, a Jesuit for 64 years and a priest for 58 years. Fr. Prucha was born in River Falls, Wisconsin on January 4, 1921. He graduated from River Falls State Teachers College in 1941 and served in the Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1946. He earned an M.A. in History from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in History from Harvard University. In 1950 Fr. Prucha entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained a priest in 1957. An outstanding Jesuit Scholar and Educator, Fr. Prucha was assigned to Marquette University in 1960. He remained at Marquette for fifty years even after he officially became professor emeritus. Fr. Prucha trained generations of doctoral students, published more than twenty-five books, many scholarly articles and was a major force in establishing Marquette's rich research archives documenting Catholicism among Native Americans. His two-volume, The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians, published in 1985, is regarded as a classic among professional historians. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 3, at the San Camillo Chapel (10200 West Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa) from 6 PM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 7 PM. Chapel Committal service will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Milwaukee on Tuesday, August 4 at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wisconsin Province Jesuits, 3400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208.

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Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Aug. 2, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Francis Prucha

Sponsored by BECKER RITTER ELMBROOK FUNERAL HOME.

15 Entries

Mitch Caver

July 24, 2022

Remember his contribution to history.

Mitch Caver

November 26, 2015

Father Prucha's letters of support and encouragement has been instrumental in helping me in my research into Indian Peace Medals. Even within the last couple of years his interest was still keen on that subject and actually was key in one project that was fantastically successful.
Thank you Father Prucha
Mitch Caver
Chickasaw Nation Researcher

William Rowley

August 11, 2015

Paul Prucha was a leader in his profession and especially in the Western History Association. He was a fondly remembered mentor to me in the Western History Association when he was President of that organization. His incisive mind always cut to the essentials of an issue that others often obscured. I shall always treasure his friendship and guidance.

Judy Austin

August 11, 2015

Paul was a friend, colleague, and--in ways I suspect he didn't realize--mentor to this Presbyterian and historian. We shared some adventures liberally laced with humor over the 40 years we knew each other, as well as time committed to the Western History Association. He was--and I speak here as an editor--a superb writer as well as a superb historian...and human being. Rest in peace, Paul.

August 11, 2015

Father Prucha was a demanding and meticulous scholar, and unquestionably the world's leading authority on the history of American Indian policy. Although many of us didn't always agree with all of his interpretations (i.e.: Jacksonian Indian policy) we all respected his scholarship and his mastery of detail. I once heard Vine Deloria give him the ultimate compliment - "Heck, I don't always agree with him, but when it comes to the details on the history of the BIA and federal policy, he's the guy I always turn to." Beneath that dignified exterior bubbled a rich sense of humor, but he didn't share it with everyone. Our discipline has been enriched through his efforts, and he will be sorely missed. I hope the angels in heaven get their footnote form right, otherwise there will be a Czech Jesuit from Wisconsin up there telling them how to arrange their "P's and Q's" - Dave Edmunds

August 11, 2015

I knew Paul Prucha from my earliest years, for our parents were very good friends. Both his father, Ed Prucha, and my father, Walker D. Wyman, taught at River Falls State Teachers College, and one of my earliest memories is of a Thanksgiving dinner at the Prucha house.
Many years later I got to know him again at Western Historical Association meetings, and of course we had much to talk about. Our last meeting was when I was doing research for my book "The Wisconsin Frontier," and he invited me to Milwaukee where we had a good talk as well as a great lunch in the working-class restaurant where, one week earlier, President Clinton and Chancellor Helmut Kohl had dined.
I consider him a person of integrity, humor, possessed with a real desire to help people, and also with an everlasting quest for truth, and I am very thankful to have known him. -- Mark Wyman

Larry Giantomas

August 8, 2015

Father Prucha shaped my career and because of him I have my degees from Marquette and I was fortunte enough to be his friend and we kept in close touch over the years since i movedd from Milwaukee. He recommended me to be the new Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts in 1964. For that I eternally grateful. . He took me to dinner before I moved back to Indiana. .To me he was FAMILY! God rest his good soul

Beatrice A. Semrov

August 5, 2015

Condolences to the Order of Jesuits,

Having been fortunate to know Fr. Prucha while earning my M.A. in history at Marquette, I remember him as a role model, meticulous scholar, and a dedicated priest.

Alice Kehoe

August 3, 2015

Paul was a truly wise man as well as a deeply learned and knowledgable scholar. His modesty and colleagiality, coupled with his steadfast allegiance to the highest quality research and writing, made him a hero to me. I deeply treasure our several decades of friendship.

Lee Hettinger

August 3, 2015

Fr. Prucha, or Paul as his friends knew him, was truly a wonderful professor, a renowned historian on the United States and the American Indian tribes, and a great Jesuit! And he always had a great sense of humor mixed in with his cerebral historic musings! He would shoot in those dry one-liners while explaining some important facts about the westward movement! He was an icon of American historians, and Marquette will surely miss him!

Tom Landers

August 3, 2015

Fr.Prucha will always be admired, respected,and remembered by me,not only as an outstanding,yet humble, priest, educator, and scholar, but as a mentor who wisely directed me to my career in secondary teaching. Am happy I had the chance to annually visit him in both of our retirement years.

Tim Crain

August 2, 2015

Fr. Prucha was a former professor and friend from Marquette University. I had the good fortune of staying in touch with him over the years, and I saw him many times at San Camillo. Fr. Prucha was a superb scholar and teacher, and he was also one of the most exceptional human beings I have ever known.

Diane Hoeveler

August 2, 2015

A great man and dear friend.

Hugh and Katie McManus

August 2, 2015

Fr. Prucha was a wonderful priest, a wonderful disciple, a wonderful role model, a man for all seasons, a wonderful professor and consummate scholar , a man of integrity and spirit. He cared and served . Hugh and Katie McManus

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