Gerald Edward Praschak, 84, passed away on Friday, May 13th, 2022, with his wife and children at his side. He had a very active life until an illness caused him to lose much of his mobility at the end of 2021. He fought hard for several months at rehab so he could get back to going to the gym and church with his wife, and spending time doing things with his friends and family. While at rehab, it was discovered that he had an illness which could not be cured. Even with that discovery he stayed strong for his family and went out on his terms.
Gerald was born March 25, 1938, in Newark NJ to Michael & Helen Praschak. He was the youngest of 4 children. He had a brother Michael and two sisters, Barbara, and Pauline. After graduating high school, he entered the Air-Force in 1956. He met Theresa Capriglione in Kearny, NJ while visiting a common friend and they were married in 1962. They lived in Kearny for a short time until they moved to Rockaway, NJ in 1966 to raise their family.
While working a full-time job, and helping to raise his children, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Newark College of Engineer, now known as New Jersey Institute of Technology, in 1971. He worked at several companies: Resistoflex, DynaPac, Teledyne and MEI as an engineer until retiring in 1999. Theresa and Gerald sold their home, purchased a motor home, and left NJ to travel around the country for the next 7 years. They then settled in Kansas City, MO to be close to two of their children who had moved there from New Jersey.
He was an avid car mechanic and handyman. He enjoyed applying his skills and talent in helping others with any job they needed help on. He especially liked doing things for his family. Family was the most important thing to him. This value is a legacy that he has passed on to his children. He was always there for family.
He was also, what the family thought, an avid storyteller. There was nothing he didn’t do or experience. He would always know the best directions to get places (before Google maps) and had been almost everywhere in the world while in the Air-Force. The biggest story was how he worked on secret missions while in the Air-Force. It was so far-fetched we weren’t even sure he was in the Air-Force since he told us his records were burned in a fire and destroyed. We have come to realize that most of what he told us were true which makes some of what he passed on to us even more amazing.
Gerald is survived by his wife Theresa of 60 years, daughters Lisa Sylvester and her husband David of Rockaway, NJ, Lorrie Newman and her husband Kenneth of Overland Park, KS, and sons Phillip Praschak and his wife Aleta of Hackettstown, NJ, Tom Praschak and his wife Susanne of East Brunswick, NJ, and Christopher Praschak and his wife Michelle of Kansas City, MO, along with 10 grandchildren: Lauren, Carly, Douglas, Rebecca, Jaryd, Jianna, Kenneth Jr., Keith, McKenna, and Drew.
A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, June 29 at 10:30 am at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church located at 7023 W 71st St., Overland Park, KS 66204. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donation to Kansas City Hospice, located at 1200 Wornall Rd. Kansas City MO, 64145. The website for donations is: https://www.kchospice.org/donation/
Condolences may be offered at: www.McGilley-Frye.com
