Patricia Prange

Patricia Ann (Rush) Prange

Pat passed away peacefully at the IGNITE medical resort in Crown Point, Indiana the morning of January 30, 2025. She said her goodbyes to many family members the night before. Pat was born in what is now the Hubinger Farmhouse on 113th Ave. on March 13, 1938. She was the eldest child born to Paul and Anna (Abramson) Rush. Pat grew up with her siblings: Nancy (Skip) Anders, Bill Rush, Jim (Sue) Rush, Janet Loitz, Butch (Barb) Rush and Judith Rush (deceased).

Eager to start her life, Pat quit high school her junior year to begin working full-time. One year later, she married James Robert Prange. Together they had three children: Jim (Missy), Tom (Kerin) and Cindy (deceased). Pat became a single parent at age 29, and worked two jobs until opening Gambie's Pizza in the 70's. As a parent (and eventual grandparent), she was the family cheerleader and never missed an event.

When a fire destroyed Gambie's Pizza, Pat went to work at Denny's for years before moving to Marco Island with her daughter, Cindy, to see her boys. While on Marco, she worked at the Marco Island Marriott Hotel and was Brian Urlacher's favorite cashier at Publix Super Market, the local grocery store.

Pat moved back to her beloved Crown Point in 2017. She loved playing cards and dice and watching all sports, especially auto racing (NASCAR) and football. She went to her first Indy 500 at age 85 - she must have walked 5 miles that day as she refused to be dropped off at the gate.

However, what put the biggest smile on her face were her 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Pat was everyone's favorite! She took more than one nephew/niece to their first sporting event - a ball game at White Sox Park or midget car racing at Illiana.

She is missed so much! She loved life and wasn't ready to go.

A Catholic burial service will be held at the gravesite at the Maplewood Cemetery on the morning of May 24, 2025 at 11 o'clock. This will be followed by a celebration of Pat's life at the Crown Point American Legion from 12 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We invite all those who loved her - friends, past coworkers, etc. - to attend.

If you cannot attend, or would like to send condolences, share a story or memory with the family, please visit the guest book section on the obituary page at www.GeisenFuneral-Home.com.