Hilma Irene Pruzek

1943 - 2025

Hilma Irene Pruzek

October 2, 1943 - August 26, 2025

Hilma "Irene" Pruzek, 81, Chippewa Falls, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Christian Community Homes in Hudson, WI.

Irene was born on October 2, 1943, to William & Lillian (Mize) Johnson in La Crosse, WI. She grew up in Whitehall, WI, graduating with the class of 1962. Irene earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College and began a teaching career. After 25 years of teaching High School English, she retired from Memorial High School in 1995. Irene was a promoter and advocate for multicultural studies and was awarded an Innovation in Teaching award for her work with the Hmong community in Eau Claire.

She married Richard (Rick) Pruzek on December 27th, 1969, in Whitehall, WI, celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary last year. After a few years living in Williams Bay, WI, they moved to Chippewa Falls in 1973, and purchased an 80-acre farm, affectionately known as Lone Oak Farm, even though it was a rustic beginning with no indoor bathroom. Rick and Irene built a loving life together on the farm, enjoying their years together raising a family, making lifelong friends, being a part of the Fifth Season cooking group, serving their community, and traveling -even close to home with their annual Twin Cities getaways, celebrating both Rick's birthday and their anniversary each December.

Irene loved being a stay-at-home mom while her boys were young and enjoyed volunteering at her church and in her community. She was a faithful member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, serving as Lector, chairing numerous committees, teaching Sunday School, and directing Christmas programs. Later in life and outside of church, Irene served as a mentor to area youth for 12 years, volunteered at the Heyde Center for the Arts, and participated in the Chippewa Valley Art Show.

Irene was an artist at heart who loved beauty wherever it was. She expressed her artistic passion through her photography, vibrant flower gardens, creative scrapbooks, interior color designs and magazine-worthy table settings. She loved decorating for the holidays and especially enjoyed pumpkin pie for breakfast after Thanksgiving. Outside of her family, her greatest joy in life was photographing and exploring the natural beauty of her prairie restoration surrounding her home on Lone Oak Farm. She never tired of exploring its complexities and beauty, with Abby, their golden doodle, faithfully by her side.

Irene is survived by her husband, Rick; sons, Noah (Renee) Pruzek of Hudson, WI, and Josh (Liisa) Pruzek of Portland, OR; grandchildren, Colin, Logan, Ben, Lily, and Will; brother, Peyton (Kathy) Johnson of Onalaska, WI; niece, Lexi Johnson of Onalaska, WI; and many other loving family members and friends.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 6th, 2025, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1300 Mansfield St., Chippewa Falls, with a visitation one hour before the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Heyde Center for the Arts, 3 S High St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls, is serving the family. Please share your memories or condolences online at pedersonvolker.com