Gilbert "Melvin" Pruden

"O God, grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, and when that day comes and I make my last cast, I humbly pray that when I am in the Lord's safe landing net and I am peacefully asleep, he may judge ME big enough to keep!"

Family visitation was held 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Thursday, August 25, 2005 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Funeral Services followed the family visitation at 4:00 PM, Thursday, August 25, 2005 at Behner Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date in Campbell Cemetery in Polluck, Missouri. His body was cremated.

Cards and memorials to
Hospice of Central Iowa or the American Diabetes Assn may be sent c/o:
900 W. Depot
Fairfield, IA 52556

Gilbert "Melvin" Pruden was born November 26, 1930 in Fairfield, Iowa, the son of Gilbert and Goldie (Smith) Pruden. He graduated from Fairfield High School and married Roberta Hostetter at the Nazarene Church in Fairfield on January 21, 1951. They were the parents of two daughters, Debbie and Penny.

Melvin lived all his life in Fairfield and worked at the Dexter Company for 38 years. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard. Melvin especially loved hunting and fishing (his favorite spot to fish was Cedar Creek!) He had a special fascination with locomotives ( "...the railroad is held in highest favor by the optimist...") and the American Bison. He had planned to take a trip to the Bison Range in the Dakotas.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Roberta and his daughters and their families; Debbie Jester and husband Bert of Fairfield, IA and Penny Klett and husband Rick of Hannibal, MO.

Melvin was grandfather to Jason Klett of Fairfield, Billie Frick of Hannibal, MO, Jamie Williams of Fairfield, Matt Jester of Hannibal and Shon Davis of Indianapolis, IN. He had eleven great-grandchildren.

Surviving siblings are Marilyn Glass, Marge Royers, and Karen Luke of Fairfield, IA and Bonnie Dillie of Birmingham, IA.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents.

"A little while and I will be gone from among you, when I cannot tell...what is life? It is ...a breath of a buffalo in the winter time..." -Crowfoot