Thomas Prischmann

Thomas LeRoy Prischmann, 74, of Fergus Falls, passed away February 13, 2019. He was born September 22, 1944 in Orchard, Nebraska, to Carl and Helen (Darr) Prischmann. The family moved to a farm north of Elizabeth, MN, when he was 12. Tom married Karen Olson on September 1, 1968. God blessed them with five children, two by birth and three by adoption.

Tom and Karen owned four businesses together: Clays in Calico in Cardwell, MT; Pebble Lake Nursery in Fergus Falls, MN; Winger’s Cabinets in Bismarck, ND; and Reflections of India/Reflections of Minnesota in ND and MN.

Thomas also was a salesman for Life Investors Insurance and A. O. Smith Harvestore. He worked for A. G. Edwards in Bismarck for many years, beginning as a stock and commodities broker and ending his career as a Vice-President of Investments.

In his retirement years, Tom was as driven as in his working years. His first international mission trip was to India with a team from his church - arriving in the dead of night to honking horns, elephants in the street and people living on the train station platform. He had the time of his life.

On later trips he arranged an educational program for very poor girls living in the slums of Hyderabad, India, engaging sponsors from his friends. It was the first of many projects. The next was a humanitarian mission to Peru after an earthquake, bringing a wheelchair and much needed aid with him. He learned about Wycliffe Associates and volunteered for years in Cameroon, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and India, first in various construction projects and later teaching the use of a computer program to the indigenous population enabling them to do their own Bible translation. He traveled to Africa to help at two Rafiki orphanages in Tanzania and Malawi, tutoring in math and showing the children how to make popcorn for the first time. He loved every minute!

Thomas was a humble man. He gave of his resources and his time to those in need, always showing dignity and respect. He was a man of no fear. When he was taking a cab from the airport to a mission project in the inner city of Chicago, the cabbie told him “you don’t want to go there”. But he did. He was as comfortable walking the street of Old Delhi as fishing the waters of Heilberger Lake. He treated the 15 girls of Rasoolpura (Hyderabad) to their first restaurant meal, and brought in a hitchhiker to eat a meal at Burger King in Moorhead. He saw all the poor, the weak, the broken, and the unborn as precious and of infinite value in the sight of God. Tom stayed the course. He was faithful to his God, his wife and his family. He knew it was becoming harder to do all the things he wanted to do, and that time was running out; but he never quit challenging himself and others to keep on with the great adventure that life can be, full of hardships and joy. He lived big, until the moment he died.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Karen Prischmann; children, Hope Winrod, Amy Trom, Mark (Gracia) Prischmann, Jesse Prischmann and Erinn (Mark) Webb; grandchildren, Ethan Prischmann, Isaac Webb and Esmeralda Webb; siblings, Carl (Diane) Prischmann, Dan
(JoAnn) Prischmann and Nancy (Arvid) Morken; sister-in-law Deb (Dan) Jensen and 12 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Helen Prischmann; son-in-law, Mike Trom; brother-in-law, Pete Olson; mother-in-law, Solway Olson; father-in-law, Raynold Olson, and two grandchildren who took their first breaths in heaven.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:1

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to wycliffeassociates.org

Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, February 17, 2019, at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, Fergus Falls with a praise service at 6:00 p.m. lead by Reverend Eric Uggerud. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at Grace United Methodist Church, Fergus Falls.
Service: 12:00 p.m., Monday, February 18, 2019, at Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls, MN.
Clergy: Reverends Neal Stockeland and Dr. Wesley Gabel
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Arrangements are with the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com