Doris Clara Prochnow

Doris Clara Prochnow passed away peacefully on July 3 at the Kingston Retirement Center in Santa Fe, NM at age 102.  A lifelong resident of Ft Wayne, IN she moved to Santa Fe, NM in 2012 to be with family.  Born July 6, 1917 to Walter & Clara Mertz in Corunna, IN she was preceded in death by her husband, Lutheran school teacher, Adrian Prochnow; her sisters Norma Hartman and Anna Jamison and brother Benjamin Mertz.  She is survived by her daughters Diane (Tom) Anderson of Las Vegas, NV;  Jane (Bill Tunmer) of Nelson, New Zealand;  and son David Prochnow (Gail Reitenbach) of Santa Fe, NM; 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Doris graduated from Manchester College in 1934 and began teaching in a one room school house in Fairfield Township, IN.  She and Adrian married Aug 13, 1945 and moved to Ft Wayne where she taught for 2 more years.  She was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and served in Altar Guild, quilting and craft groups, Ladies Aid and the Sunday school program.  She was also a gifted artist and devoted many years to her painting.  She and Adrian traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and the Holy Land. 

There will be an interment at a later date at Concordia Cemetery in Ft. Wayne, IN.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions we invite you to join us in spirit by offering a prayer of gratitude for Doris’ life.  The family is thankful to the Kingston staff for the excellent and loving care given to her for the 7 years she lived there.

The family requests that any memorials be given to Emmanuel Lutheran Church Elementary School, Ft Wayne, IN. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris Clara Prochnow, please visit our floral store.