Jeri Lou Prchal, age 67 of Excelsior, formerly of Prior Lake, passed away at her home on May 10, 2017. A visitation will be held from 10-12 Noon on Saturday, June 3, 2017 with a time of sharing at 12 Noon, all at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake. A burial will take place at a later date.
On September 24, 1949 in Minneapolis, Jerry and Marie (Lewis) Strukel celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jeri Lou Strukel. She was one of two daughters. The family lived in Richfield, but spent their summers at the family cabin in Rice Lake, Minnesota. In her youth, Lou discovered her love for the water. Along with her family and friends, Lou would ski the entire day until the boat ran out of gas. The next day they’d do it all over again.
Following her high school graduation, Lou attended Mankato State where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her freshman year, Lou met fellow student Robert Prchal. Noticing Bob was sitting alone at a house party, Lou approached him, gave him a kiss on the check then left the party. A few days later Bob tracked her down and the rest is history. During their winter break on December 27, 1969, the young couple exchanged wedding vows at Assumption Catholic Church in Richfield.
Lou and Bob began their family with the birth of their only son, Scott. The family lived in multiple places, eventually settling in Prior Lake. Lou worked as a receptionist for Grendahl Mechanical and Dr. John J. Ponterio DDS. Outside of work, Lou relaxed with Bob and Scott on the lake. Whenever Bob traveled for work, Lou and Scott indulged in their favorite (and Bob’s least favorite) meal together, spaghetti.
Family time was important to Lou. For that reason, Lou and Bob decided to move to Excelsior in 1999 to be closer to the granddaughter, Grace.
Despite undergoing 29 surgeries and being physically limited, Lou remained active in her later life. Lou was an enthusiastic collector—when she set her eyes on a goal, she was persistent in achieving it. This resulted in many collections from ceramic shoes to beanie babies. Lou was a voracious reader, an avid movie goer, and world traveler.
For many years, Lou and Bob traveled to Kauai, Hawaii. Lou cherished her time there. Nothing brought her the same sense of tranquility as the sight and smell of tropical flowers, watching the humpback whales, being in the sunshine and by the water.
Lou’s memory will be cherished forever by her son, Scott (Tina) Prchal; granddaughter, Grace Prchal; sister, Roxane Kavaloski; other loving relatives and friends. Jeri is reunited in heaven with her husband of 48 years, Robert “Bob” Prchal, and parents, Jerry and Marie Strukel.
The Prchal family is proudly cared for by the staff of Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home & Cremation.
