John Farris Prather

      John F. Prather passed away unexpectedly on Saturday morning, June 1, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. John was born in Spencer, IA on April 26, 1958 to Virgil K and Darlene (Amis) Prather and lived his entire life in Spencer, IA. He attended schools in Spencer and graduated from Spencer High School in 1976.

      John worked his entire life in Spencer, first, working at Superior Manufacturing/WITCO until it closed in 1997. After that he decided to work with children and went to work at Spencer Schools.   One of his first students he worked with was David Forslund, whom he helped for 13 years and then, after that transferred to Molly’s room. John would tell stories of washing the towels, being the lunchroom monitor and The Filling Station restaurant days. He was famous for writing poems for special occasions for special people.  Around the same time, he also started working at the Spencer YMCA. He was the go-to for childcare and swimming with the kids. For several years, John was a Foster Parent in Clay County. He hosted numerous kids and provided them with a safe place to live.

      John lived a simple life, with his cat Trinket, and was very loyal to those he was close to. If he said he was going to do something he would do it. From making his famous cookie bars for every occasion, including his only niece, Stephanie’s many softball teams, over the years. No one could get the cookie bars as soft and chewy as he could. He also would send birthday and anniversary cards to those closest to him. He loved watching the Twins, Cubs, Vikings and Iowa Hawkeyes. He passed time by doing Crossword Puzzles and remembering useless trivia. He volunteered to chaperone school dances and with the Special Olympics. John touched many lives throughout the years and was loved by many of the people he met. 

 John was preceded in death by his father, Virgil, and brother Jay. 

     He is survived by his mother, Darlene of Spencer; Brother, Jim (Barb) of Hudson, IA and his niece Stephanie of Hudson, IA. Additional family members include his Uncle Dana (Carole) Prather of Kansas City and cousins, Keith Prather, Karen (Tim) Defrancesca, Kristen (David) Hutchinson, TC (Andrea Sevetson) Evans, and Jeff (Teresa) Amis.