Donald E. Pritz

Donald E. Pritz, 88, of Topeka, KS passed away January 30, 2018.

He was born December 26, 1929 to Elmer & Vera Pritz near Waterville, KS and grew up as an only child on their family farm.

He and Barbara were married March 11, 1951 and first lived in Blue Rapids, KS and later moved to Lawrence and then Topeka.

Don held several jobs early in his life but his longest and final job was for Premier Industrial as an independent sales representative. Don loved his regular interactions with his customers and always strived to provide them with dedicated service and the best products. He was very assertive that his products were the best and was very capable in demonstrating the quality to not only his customers, but his family and friends; any project being done was not allowed to begin until he would throw away the nuts and bolts that came with the product and replaced them all with his own Premier brand products.

Don developed a love for music as a young boy. He sang in school choirs & also as a hobby at home or at parties or ho-downs with friends held in the family home. He enjoyed playing his guitar until the arthritis in his fingers prevented him from doing so.

He was a lifetime member of the Topeka Scottish Rite Bodies & as a member of the Topeka Arab Shriners he sang with their Chanters group.

Don appreciated the beauty in nature and enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the lake. He and Barbara also traveled and enjoyed trips throughout the continental U.S., Canada, Hawaii, Europe, and took several trips on bus tours.

Don and Barbara participated in many community service projects through the years and Don was always eager to help others. He was a devoted husband, father, uncle and grandfather who loved his family and his God deeply. He taught his kids respect, empathy, responsibility and how to fix things on their own – along with a good mix of lessons on stubbornness too! Don's presence here on earth will be greatly missed but we are comforted in the knowledge that though the body gives out, love goes on forever. Don took the love of family and many friends with him and left behind the knowledge to all who knew and loved him that they were loved in return.

Don is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Pam Carter (Dwayne); son Rick Pritz (Lesa); grandchildren Jennifer Griffith (Rob), Adam Klein (Michelle), Ashley Kavanagh (Liam), and Joshua Pritz; step-grandchildren Justin Carter, Nick Carter (Janae); and great-grandchild Matthew Carter.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2018 at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, 17th & Fairlawn.

The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131.

To leave a special message for Don's family, please visit the guestbook below.