John W. Pratt, 78, of De Soto died April 15, 2019, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Pratt was a machinist for Lincoln Pentaire and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of Amvets Post 48 and the First Baptist Church of De Soto. Born March 2, 1941, in Ironton, he was the son of the late Lucille (Politte) and Herbert Pratt.
He is survived by his wife: Ethel (Wideman) Pratt of De Soto; three children: Cheryl (Kevin) Staley of Columbus, Ind., Diane Wideman of De Soto and John W. (Mark) Pratt II of St. Louis; six siblings: Charles (Ann) Pratt of Cadet, Sylvester “Pill” (Verna) Pratt of Crystal City, Rose Marie Morris of De Soto, Doris (the late Red) Burr of De Soto, Carolyn (the late Donald) Baugus of De Soto and Elaine (Larry) Baldridge of Potosi; a half-sister: Donna (Mark) Peters; a half-brother: Mike Schutte of Potosi; four grandchildren: Mackenzie (Kevin) Nappier, Matthew (Theresa) Dickemann, Brandon (Amanda) Sloss and Christopher (Amanda) Pratt; and six great-grandchildren: Charlie Mae, Theodore, Kylie, Conner, Ethan and Caden.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Nancy Weiss, Bernadette (Oscar) Wall and Margarete (Paul survives) Miller; and a granddaughter: Mary Dickemann.
Funeral services were held April 20 at First Baptist Church in De Soto, officiated by Jimmie Turner. Burial was in Hillsboro Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 7745 Carondelet Ave., Suite 305, Clayton, Mo., 63105. Arrangements were under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto.