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Arthur A. Pritzl
age 92, former Park Falls Postmaster and prominent community leader, entered eternal life November 2, 2016 at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. He was born on April 20, 1924. He attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School, grades 1-8 and graduated from Park Falls Lincoln High School with the Class of 1942. He served his country in the United States Army and was a World War II Veteran. He did his 17 weeks of Basic Training at Camp Blanding Florida and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.
After the war he returned to Park Falls and married on August 27, 1945 Patricia Jean Hepner, daughter of Raymond and Teresa (Dirrigle) Hepner at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. During their 28 years of married life, they were truly blessed with six wonderful children.
Art’s second marriage was to Dorothy S. Cordy on June 25, 1977 in Mellen, WI.
Arthur, the son of the late Aloyisus Pritzl and Mary (Ernst) Pritzl-Bruch was an active member of the Park Falls community for many years. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. He was a life member and very active in the Dirrigle-Sawales American Legion Post No. 182. He had 65 years of membership at the time of his death. He served his local post in all of its offices. Art organized and participated in hundreds of military funerals and led parades with his fellow veteran comrades for many years.
He was also a member of the Heisler-Mockler Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6903 and the Price County Voiture No. 970 of the 40 et 8. Art was a very patriotic American who loved his country, his God, his church, his community, and his family. Art was a former member of the Park Falls Lions Club, the Park Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus, and a charter member of the Jaycees in Park Falls.
Volunteer service to his community was a huge part of Art’s life. He was a coach and president of the Park Falls Little League for 15 years from 1961 to 1976. He drove the ambulance for the Park Falls Hospital for 8 years from December 1968 to 1976. He was a charter Hospital Member. Art was honored to be selected as the Flambeau Rama Parade Marshal by the Park Falls Chamber of Commerce in 2013 with the theme being: “A LIFETIME OF SERVICE”.
Art worked in the United States Post Office for 30 years; from April 1949 to 1964 as a clerk-carrier and 1964 to 1976 as the Park Falls Postmaster, appointed by then President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. He was a member of the National Association of Postmasters Retired (NAPUS). Art was a school bus driver for the Park Falls School District for 9 years, from August 1979 to April 1988. Art was a dedicated Price County Board Supervisor representing the Town of Lake from April 1990 to April 2008. A very special highlight in Art’s life was his Honor Flight trip to Washington DC in Sept. 2008.
Art leaves to morn his passing, his loving wife Dorothy of 39 years, three daughters, Virginia (Eugene) Leopold, Superior, Martha (Gregory) Lottes, Madison, Patricia (Gerry) Johnson, Tomahawk, two sons, David (Michelle), Park Falls, Roger Frings of Madison, (12)grandchildren, (11)great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Marilyn (Charles) Gustafson, Park Falls, one brother, James (Coreen) Pritzl, Park Falls, a sister-in-law, Shirley Pritzl, Park Falls and numerous nieces and nephews.
Art was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Diane Moscrip (2012), his step-father Charles Bruch, two sisters, Eleanor Wauro (2013), Agnes Stasiak (2014), and one brother Donald Pritzl (2010), two brothers-in-law, Walter Wauro (1997), and Frank Stasiak (2004).
Art was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In addition to his volunteer work he enjoyed many activities during his long life: hunting, fishing, bowling, throwing horseshoes, playing cards, watching sports, gardening, canning, cooking, listening to polka music, and dancing. His kind, loving, patient manner will be sadly missed.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday November 11, 2016 at 11:00am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Park Falls. Fr. Shaji Pazhukkathara and Deacon Chet Ball will co-officiate.
Interment will follow at Nola Cemetery in Park Falls with military honors under the auspices of the Park Falls American Legion Post, the Park Falls VFW Post, and the Active Duty Honor Guard.
Visitation will be held on Friday at the church from 10:00am until the hour the service.
The Novitzke Funeral Home is assisting the family.
