Dr. Dean B. Pratt, MD, of Elkhart Lake, passed away Monday, October 29, 2018 at Sheboygan Senior Community of heart failure. He was 80 years old. Dean was born July 13, 1938 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Clarence and Mildred (nee Smith) Pratt.
His family moved to Minnesota in 1945, and he graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1956. He went on to graduate from University of Minnesota (BA) in 1960, and the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1963. He went on to serve his country in… Read More » the United States Army from 1964 – 1967 as a Captain in Munich, Germany.
In 1972, Dean moved to Sheboygan where he worked as a general surgeon at The Sheboygan Clinic until his retirement in 2000. In that time, he helped co-found the first hospice in Sheboygan, and served as their medical director. Dean was a member of First United Lutheran Church, and was very active with the YMCA, and their Y’s Men’s Club.
He loved music, and sang in many choirs including Lakeshore Chorale and the First United Lutheran Church Choir. He was an involved member of his community; he served on numerous community boards, and served as President of many. He proudly co-founded the Hunger Ball in Sheboygan County over 10 years ago, which donates it’s yearly proceeds to local food pantries.
On March 4, 2000, he was united in marriage with Gail Showerman. The couple moved to Elkhart Lake in 2004. He was a member of the Sheboygan Yacht Club and enjoyed fishing, sailing and boating of all kinds, as well as creating beautiful pieces of art through wood turning.
Above all, he loved to entertain, cherished time spent with his family and friends, and sip his nightly martini while bird watching. Dean is survived by his wife Gail Showerman of Elkhart Lake, and his children: Steve Pratt of Boston, MA and Sue (Rick) Shandler of Havertown, PA. He is further survived by his grandchildren: Sam, Sarah, Lucas, Riley, Bram and Eli; Gail’s daughter Kathryn Schwark VandeLeest of Sheboygan; brother Neal (Ann) Pratt of Bangor, ME; first wife Sarah “Sally” Pratt of Milwaukee, brother-in-law John (Ruthann) Showerman of Deerfield, IL, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends.
He is preceded in death by Gail’s son, John Schwark. A Memorial Service will be held at 12 noon on Friday, November 2, 2018 at First United Lutheran Church, 2401 Kohler Memorial Drive in Sheboygan. The family will receive visitors at the church on Friday from 10:00AM – 12:00 noon.
Memorials are suggested in Dean’s name to the Hunger Ball of Sheboygan County, Lakeshore Chorale and Bookworm Gardens.
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