Karen Rae Prusia

Obituary of Karen Rae Huckfeldt Prusia

Karen Rae Huckfeldt Prusia was born June 7, 1939, in Rushville, NE to Joe and Gerda Huckfeldt. She grew up on the family farm northeast of Gordon and attended Sunny Knoll School. She graduated in 1956 from Gordon High School and attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln for one year, before returning to Gordon.

Once back in Gordon, Karen began what would become a 57-year career of either full or part-time work at the Gordon State Bank (later known as Bank of the West). She loved her customers and prided herself on providing excellent customer service.

While attending the fair dance in the late summer of 1958, Karen caught the eye of the new head basketball coach in town. She always said that she knew after she first danced with him that he was “the one” and she was right – she and Dick Prusia were married on May 31, 1959. To this union, two children were born – Kim and Scott. She and Dick spent the next 53 years of their married life in Gordon, with the exception of 9 months in Scottsbluff while Dick did a training for his new career with Woodmen Accident and Life Insurance Company.

The insurance business resulted in many opportunities to travel, which Karen looked forward to and enjoyed, partly for the beautiful golf courses they were able to play (being married to the golf coach resulted in her becoming a low handicap golfer in her younger adult life). But for Karen, her favorite part of those trips with Dick was the additions she made to her wardrobe. Karen was always known for her impeccable wardrobe, and she made sure that she looked her best wherever she went, whatever the occasion.

One of their favorite travel destinations was to Lincoln for Husker football, basketball, and baseball. Football was their favorite since Dick was a Husker football player himself, and they drew great joy from introducing first their kids and later their four grandchildren to the excitement of gameday at Memorial Stadium.

Sports travel was not limited to the Huskers, as both Karen and Dick were avid supporters of their children and grandchildren throughout their school sports and activities. Many a story has been floated about the trips they made and the antics they had with friends while driving to watch the kids. And once the grandkids started participating, the traveling fun continued.

When she was not at the bank or on the road, Karen was a meticulous and organized homemaker, and a fabulous entertainer. She loved preparing food and her home for a party. Just like serving her customers at the bank, Karen’s number one goal was always to make sure her guests were treated to delicious food and beautiful surroundings. She was known for her perfectly manicured yard and flowers. Even as her dementia progressed in later years, she could be found pulling weeds in the yard or cleaning up the landscaping.

Karen is survived by her children Kim (Tim) Marlatt of Wood Lake, NE and Scott (Michelle) Prusia of Torrington, WY; grandchildren Rick (Jenn) Marlatt of Wood Lake, NE, Sara (Jud) Hoffschneider of Valentine NE, Nick Prusia of Lincoln, NE and Shelbey (Zac) Gunter of Laramie, WY; great-grandchildren Gavin and Charlotte Marlatt; sister Gloria Mills of Gordon, NE and sister-in-law Nancy Huckfeldt of Lincoln, NE; numerous nieces and nephews and her close circle of longtime friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Dick Prusia, her parents Joe and Gerda Huckfeldt, her brother Joe Huckfeldt, and her sisters and brothers-in-law Joe and Mary Lou Eisenreich, Carl and Shirley Pratt, and Jack Mills, as well as her niece Jackie Kling.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Gordon, with inurnment at the Gordon Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Gordon.