Loretta May Proehl, 93, of Rapid River, passed away January 1, 2008 at the Bishop Noa Home.

She was born July 2, 1914 in Kipling, MI and was the daughter of Louis and Lydia (Spangler) Switzer.
The former Loretta Switzer married Martin Proehl on November 4, 1939, in Gladstone and he preceded her in death on April 24, 1975. Martin and Loretta spent a brief part of their married life in Ohio, but moved to Rapid River to raise their children.

Loretta worked for the Rapid River Public Schools, retiring in 1981. She was a member of St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid for many years.

Loretta Proehl is survived by sons, Kenneth (Patti) Proehl, Manitowoc, WI; Duane (Ruth) Proehl, Rapid River; daughters, Kathleen (Tim) Callahan, Rapid River, Kathryn (David) Whipple, Ohio; grandchildren, Mark (Crista) Proehl, Paul (Erica) Proehl, Amy (Marc) Nelson, Craig (Heather) Proehl, Todd (Tami) Proehl, Kari Proehl, Bradley Callahan, Nancy Callahan, Kelly (Dave) Funston, Joanne Whipple, Nathan Whipple, and Aaron Whipple. She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Berg, Gladstone and many nieces and nephews.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Lydia Switzer; husband, Martin; and infant son; grandsons, Timothy and Stephen Proehl; brothers, Floyd, Burdett, Orrie and Harold Switzer; and sisters, Winifrid Switzer, Imo Miller, Barbara Switzer and Ilene Wickstrom.

Visitation for Loretta Proehl will be held from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 AM with Pastor Phillip Paustian officiating. There will be a luncheon at St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rapid River immediately following the service.