Gertrude "Trudy" Prellwitz's Obituary
Gertrude “Trudy” Alda Prellwitz, age 88, went peacefully to be with the Lord on December 21, 2018 in Tacoma, Washington at her daughter Jane Simmons Home. She died from Acute Leukemia. Services at Mountain View Funeral Home on 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW on Friday January 4th. Service in the Garden Chapel at 1:00-1:30 followed by internment at 1:40. Service will be lead by Pastor Randy Bach of Gateway Church, Tacoma.
Trudy was born January 11, 1930, in Litchfield, Illinois. She was the daughter of George Christoph and Mathilda (Schuette) Folkerts. Trudy grew up in the Lutheran church and her faith was a center point of her life.
She was married to Lester Edgar Prellwitz on August 27, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois. Lester was a student at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Springfield, but quit with the birth of their first child. They lived in Springfield and raised 1 boy and 3 girls until 1964, when they moved to Wheeling, Illinois, in the suburbs of Chicago. Les worked as an Underwriter in the Insurance Industry while Trudy stayed home to raise their children.
In 1969 they moved to Jackson, Mississippi to advance Les’s career. In 1974, Les answered the call ot the Lord to be a minister and attended Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated in 1978 was ordained in the Assemblies of God. He received a call to Midland, Texas where they lived until 1981 when they moved to Denver, Colorado to be near their oldest daughter and family.
In 1989, they returned to Tacoma, Washington to be close to their three daughters. They welcomed the return to the northwest despite missing their son who remained in Illinois. Trudy’s husband Les, died in 1994.
Trudy had a beautiful singing voice and performed in many choirs over the years. She was also a talented an artist and loved to paint and was an active member of the University Place Senior Center painting group. She loved taking car rides around the area and exploring many scenic places. She was an avid baseball fan since childhood and loved the Mariners, regularly attending games. She also loved football and rooted loudly for the Seahawks. She was a member of Gateway Church in Tacoma.
Surviving are her son Gary(Cheryl) Prellwitz of DeKalb, Illinois; daughters Rebecca(Johnny) Brown of Gig Harbor; Peggy(Destry) Henderson of Tacoma; and Jane(Roger) Simmons of Lakewood. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren: Murphy Kainz, Tacoma , Matthew(Krissi) Prellwitz, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin; Ryan Prellwitz, DeKalb, Illinois; Kelsey Brown(fiancé Jeremy Bundro), Tacoma; and Austin(Wendy) Lambert, Tacoma. Also 3 great grandchildren; Gino and James Lambert, Tacoma, and Annabelle Arnst, Tacoma.
Memorials may be sent to Gateway Church, 7310 12th Ave. E, Tacoma, WA 98404.
Trudy's love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was #1 in her life and even in some of her last words, wanted everyone to know that "Jesus is the answer for the world today."
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