The Rev. Leslie Carrol Pruehsner, 89, died Friday, April 17, 2015, at 6:25 p.m.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 20, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, at Crain Funeral Home in Anna/Jonesboro.
Funeral services will follow visitation Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Bill Minor and the Rev. Brent Gordon officiating. Interment will follow at Anna City Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 3455 and Illinois National Guard.
Mr. Pruehsner was born on Aug. 18, 1925, in Nashville, the son of the late John and Edna (Ragland) Pruehsner. In 1944, he married Evelyn Toombs of Anderson, IN, and she survives in Anna after 70 years of marriage.
Since the age of 17, he has been a Methodist minister and served through “many” churches until he retired in 1988. He continued to minister to those in need up until his last days at the veterans' home in his bed.
Mr. Pruehsner has lived at the Anna Veterans' Home since January of 2011. He was provided with the best quality doctors and nurses.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was drafted into the Army in 1943, serving in Central Burma, India Burma and China Offensive. He joined the Army Reserves in September 1948 and retired as a Lt. Colonel Chaplain in 1985.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Pruehsner is survived by three daughters, Carol (Jerry) Bequette of Albers, Pat (Don) White of Fairview Heights and Menda (Rod) Cash of Jonesboro; seven grandchildren, David (Angie) White of Millstadt, Tammy (Keith) Johnson of Jonesboro, Kristen (Kevin) Templin of Albers, Rodney (Amy) Cash, Jr. of Murphysboro, Andrea (Ash) Henry of Collinsville, Jenny (Jason) Sadler of Jonesboro and Melissa White of Glen Carbon; brother, Harold Pruehsner of Springfield; 15 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many dear, special friends.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Giddings-Kessler.
Memorials may be made to the Anna Veterans' Home Activity Fund, United Methodist Church Preachers' Aid Society and Tamms Methodist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences visit www.crainsonline.com.
