Lorraine Elizabeth Prest

Lorene (Lorraine) E. Prest, age 85, passed away March 2nd at home with her husband and daughter by her side, despite her desire to continue her life with Burt, her children and friends.

The funeral service will be at Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Randy Schaub officiating. Immediately following the burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Fox Lake.

Lorraine Elizabeth Van de Kolk (Prest) was born on August 29, 1927 to Joseph and Dorothy Van de Kolk. On April 3, 1948 she was joined in marriage with Burt H. Prest in Dubuque, Iowa and has been married for 65 years.

Survivors are her husband, Burt of Fox Lake; children, Dorothy Prest, David Prest, and Carleen Klein, all of Beaver Dam; grandchildren, Carl Bender, Allen Bender, Isaac Prest, Heather Prest, Mandy Toma, Dan Klein, Andrew (Chelsea) Klein, Christine (Jimmy Berkevich) Klein; seven great grandchildren; brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, Donna (Bob) Nimm of Watertown and Tim (Virgie) Prest of Nevada, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Viola, Juanita, Marcella and brothers Bill, Carl, Wilbert; a son, Larry Prest; and a grandson, Joseph Klein.

Who was Lorraine Prest? There is never a simple answer to this question. She had a beautiful personality and lived every day with a new sense of purpose. She was a quiet reserved person who always had more things to do, more to accomplish, and more people to help.

Burt and Lorraine built their own house in Fox Lake and have lived there their whole married life. They enjoyed motorcycling around the country and belonged to the Beaver Dam Cycle Club for many years. They also loved to take their children camping every weekend year round. Lorraine always encouraged others to do everything. She also enjoyed gardening and decorating her house and yard for every holiday of the year, particularly Christmas, her favorite. Lorraine truly enjoyed spending time with her daughter repurposing old buildings in Beaver Dam. They spent many enjoyable hours working together side by side.

Her compassion for others was inspiring. Lorraine was a person who would drop everything and come to your rescue in spite of her already full schedule. For many years she took care of numerous elderly neighbors in their homes and never wanted anything in return. When they moved to a home, she visited them weekly until the day of their passing. Lorraine had a saying “I”m not afraid to die, I”m just not ready!”

Lorraine enjoyed her senior trips and Friday bingo with her friends. She looked forward to her adventures with her daughter traveling to many countries and the trips to see her granddaughter in the Air Force.

Despite her age Lorraine was always willing to try new things. At the age of 72 she went parasailing, at 75 she went tubing on the lake, at 84 she went four wheeling for hours in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and at 85 she was still telling her friends about her job cleaning an office building two days a week. You see she never retired from life.

For her family this is why it makes it so hard for us to imagine that she is gone. She part of every aspect of our lives, no matter where or what the activity was, with no fear, and with no evidence of her age. Mentally she never aged.

We just want to say thank you to my wife for all the wonderful years of blessed marriage, thank you Mom, thank you Lorraine, thank you Grandma for all you”ve given us. We will never forget all your generosity, and we will never forget you and all our wonderful memories you”ve given us.

The Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. To leave condolences, for directions and other information, please view our website at www.MurrayFH.com.

Service Details

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013, 11:00am

Interment Details

Riverside Cemetery-Fox Lake