Mildred M. (Hofmann) Praeuner

Mildred M. Praeuner, 98, of Battle Creek, passed away January 1, 2023 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 at St. John Lutheran Church in Battle Creek. Reverend Joseph Leech will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 6 at the church. The Funeral Service will also be livestreamed on the Home for Funerals website. Steffen Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mildred was born August 9, 1924 to Fred and Viola (née Nathan) Hofmann, Jr. on their family farm, the oldest of four children. Mildred was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Heights) and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1942. On June 6, 1943, she married Donald (Don) Praeuner at Heights Church. They were blessed with four daughters and a loving marriage of 71 years. 

Following Don’s military service, they returned to Battle Creek and in 1948 moved to the Praeuner family farm. They engaged in farming until 1964 when they opened the Red Bud Hardware which they operated until 2010. 

Mildred was active in the St. Peter’s Ladies Aid, Heights Choir, St. John Altar Guild, Extension Club, and local 4-H club leadership. Mildred and Don enjoyed playing cards with their life-long friends and also hosted many Bible studies in their home.

Family was foremost to Mildred. She adored her four girls, and in later years loved spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Mildred and her sister Sal had a tight bond all through life and have enjoyed their most recent years together at Community Pride Care Center. 

Mildred is survived by daughters Susan (Charles) Maxine of Shenandoah, IA, Joan (Terry) Stolle of Lincoln, Jane (Arvid) Warneke of Meadow Grove, and Ellen Sothan of Meadow Grove, twelve grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, sister Sal Renner of Battle Creek, sisters-in-law Gertrude Hofmann of Norfolk and Dorothy Tetrev of Albuquerque, NM, and a host of family and friends.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don, son-in-law David Nutter, brothers Donald and Ronald Hofmann, brothers-in-law Miles Tetrev, Kenneth Praeuner, and Earl Renner, sister-in-law Flora Praeuner, and great-grandson Lawson Walz.

Memorials may be directed to Battle Creek Fire and Rescue or St. John Lutheran School Lawson Walz Scholarship Fund.

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