Eugene Pracht

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Eugene Pracht age 72 of Broken Bow died Monday, January 4, 2021 at the Kearney Regional   Medical Center.

Funeral services for Eugene will be held at the First Baptist Church in Broken Bow, Nebraska this Thursday, January 7th at 3:00 p.m. The viewing will be at 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Masks are not required but are encouraged to be worn. The funeral will also be live-streamed at: http://www.govierbrothers.com

Eugene Leighton Pracht was born June 22,1948 in Broken Bow, Nebraska to the late Howard Pracht and Dorthy (Fox) Pracht. Eugene was the first of two sons, followed by brother Dale Howard Pracht. He attended country school near the family farm west of Westerville, then Broken Bow Public Schools after they moved there in 1965. He graduated from Broken Bow High School with the class of 1966. He completed his vocational training in electronics at the Hastings campus, and proudly served in a tour of duty with “Big Red One”. He was deployed to Vietnam, and was assigned at various times to the departments of artillery, armored vehicles, and cooking. Upon returning, he attended Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Eugene worked for the electric power company, and then joined with his father and mother as a partner in Pracht Electronics and Radio Shack in Broken Bow. After his father's death, he maintained the business, working alongside his mother at her Christian bookstore. He was a hard worker always willing to lend a helping hand, and held additional jobs including the maintenance crew for the local cemetery. He has been a member of the First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, holding several leadership roles, and was always there when they needed him. In his most recent years, he took great joy in transporting students with his ‘ole stubby-nosed school bus’ for Broken Bow Public Schools and was often surprised by his favorite. . . cookies!

He was a man of the soil, loving the years of farming with his father while continuing his care of land and livestock. His special dog, Betty Boo, was always excited to be by his side to “go see the horses”. Even in his last months, Eugene cut and baled hay for his special horses inherited from his father.

He was a man of considerable manual skills, as he remodeled houses, and repaired a wide variety of appliances and machinery such as tractors, vehicles, computers, vacuums, washing machines, sewing machines, and anything else that needed fixing. He prized his father’s tractors, including one that had been used on the family farm years ago.

He was a loyal, patriotic man who accepted being drafted, served bravely, and was Honorably Discharged. When asked once why he didn't seek a deferment, he replied that he realized if he didn't go, his little brother would have to.

He was a family man, a spiritual leader, and did anything he could to help his wife, children, and grandchildren. Many trips were taken to attend special events that his grandkids were featured in. He was a people person and could start a story session with almost anyone. He was committed to watching over his parents to help them remain in their home for as long as possible and stretched to purchase the family home in order to keep it in the family. In the past months with pandemic restrictions, he missed being able to visit his mom in the nursing home in Burwell and attend church gatherings.

Eugene was a devoted man of faith, who trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. A good gospel song never failed to bring him comfort, and he was baptized as a believer in a borrowed baptistery. He attended camp in the summers while a youth, at Homeward Trail near Mason City.

Seventy-two years was too few, but Eugene filled them well. The stories we have will fill our hearts with gratitude for this loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, son, neighbor, and dear friend.

Honorary Pallbearers include Dale Pracht, Benjamin Randolph, Charles Pracht, Kerri Merklin, Nolan Jaeschke, Casey Douglass, Ryan Douglass, Eli Randolph, and Noah Randolph.

Eugene was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Clyde Fox and Anna (Parker) Fox, paternal grandparents Oliver Pracht and Alma (Harmon) Pracht, father Howard Pracht, and two spouses Nancy (Stithem) Pracht and Gretta (Kohl) Pracht.

He is survived by his wife Kaylene (Schrader) Pracht, mother Dorthy (Fox) Pracht, and brother Dale (Alice) Pracht, adopted stepchildren Charles Pracht, LeAnna (Jerry) Lukas, Tara (Greg) Harmsen, Jennifer (Benjamin) Randolph, and grandchildren Kyla Loewenstein, Joslyn Loewenstein, Lindsey Schukei, Eli Randolph, Noah Randolph, Justin Lukas, Jenna Lukas, Chelsea Kohl, Hunter Harmsen, and Brandon Harmsen.