Pranskunas, Emma M.

Emma M. Pranskunas, 91, of Prairieburg, passed away Sunday, April 22, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairieburg by Father Wayne Droessler. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, where a Scripture service will begin at 5 p.m. Burial: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Prairieburg.

Emma is survived by her sisters, Dorothy Pranskunas of Prairieburg, and Edith (the late Jerry) Hogarty of Iowa City; nephew, Joseph (Jo) Hogarty of North Liberty; nieces, Annette (Bill) Dane of Urbandale, Janis (Brian) Andrade of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Emily (Ron) Hobbs of Overland Park, Kan.; great-nieces and nephews, Dennis (Shannon) Dane, Catherine Hogarty, Ellen (Chris) Young, Kristin (Will) Nebergall, Sean, Brooke and Courtney Martin and Kyle and Quinten Hobbs; and four great-great-nieces and nephews, Lexi, Ryan, Miles and Natalie.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Jerry Hogarty.

Emma was born Nov. 18, 1920, to George and Magdelene Pranskunas, the eldest of three daughters. Emma graduated from Central City High School in 1938. After graduation, Emma worked at Iowa National Insurance and several offices in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1982.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society. As a young girl, Emma's immigrant parents from Lithuania relied on her to translate documents and navigate the English language for them. As an adult, Emma loved learning. She earned her pilot's license, traveled to Europe and took quilting classes. She was knowledgeable about farming, gardening and forestry. Her pride and joy were her nieces and nephew. Emma mentored them lovingly with praise, encouragement and advice. They adored her and included her in every part of their lives.

A memorial fund has been established for St. Joseph Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Berna McNamara for her wonderful help and kindness the last few years. She was an angel from Heaven.

Please sign the online guest book for Emma at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette April 24, 2012.