Obituary of Everett Praetorius

Everett Praetorius, lifelong resident of Johnstown, passed away Tuesday morning at Nathan Littauer Hospital at the age of 86. Born Sept. 16, 1918 in Johnstown, the son of the late Phillip and Grace VanAntwerp Praetorius. Everett was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1942 and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Glider Division during World War II. He was wounded in Holland and his next assignment was at the Battle of The Bulge where he became a POW. Everett was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service and also the Purple Heart among several other medals. He was a member of the Foothills United Methodist Church in Gloversville and the Johnstown Senior Citizens, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. On June 1, 1946, he was married to the former Ruth Fikes. Besides his dear wife of fifty nine years, he is survived by two sons, Robert F. Praetorius and his wife Linda of Ft. Plain and Richard E. Praetorius and his partner Sandra Tallon of Johnstown; one daughter, Susan Moore and her husband Douglas of Gloversville; six grandchildren: Eric and Chad Praetorius, Justin and Allyson Moore, Chris and Patrick Tallon and one great grandson, Zachary Tallon. Everett was predeceased by a sister, Nayome Praetorius McCann. Employed by the Ellithorpe Tannery in Gloversville, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing and motorcycling. He was very devoted to his loving family and friends. Services are 11:00 am Thursday at the Ehle Funeral Home, 15 North Williams Street, Johnstown, NY with the Rev. Wayne Jones officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Fonda, NY. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 4 until 7 pm at the Ehle Funeral Home. Memorial contribution may be made in his honor to the POW Northeast Chapter c/o Marjorie Perkins, 972 Main Street, Clifton Park, New York 12065 or to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Avenue, Gloversville, NY 12078. The family has entrusted his arrangements to the care of the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam.