Jay W. Prauner

NORFOLK -- Memorial service for Jay W. Prauner, 63, of Norfolk, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 3, 2025 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Rev. Lee Weander will be officiating the service. Private family inurnment will be held at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Battle Creek. Visitation will be 2:00-5:00 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2 also at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Jay's family will be sharing stories at 3:00 p.m., at the visitation. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@oslnorfolkne. Jay passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Jay was born on July 9, 1961, in Norfolk, Nebraska to Gerald and Karon (Johnson) Prauner. Jay was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, Nebraska. He attended St. John Lutheran School in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1979. Jay went on to attend and play basketball at Northeast Technical Community College in Norfolk before transferring to attend and play football at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. He finished his schooling in 1983 with a degree in Business. Jay married Becky Bauermeister in 1982 at St. John Lutheran Church in Battle Creek and they were married for seven years. Early in his career, Jay managed King’s Kloset in Norfolk where he sold big and tall men’s clothing. Following his passion for sports, Jay began working at the Norfolk Daily News in the sports department in 1986. He achieved his first career goal of becoming sports editor in 1996. He was then promoted to managing editor in 2022 and continued helping paginate sports pages, which he considered his favorite part of the job. Jay collected numerous awards for his pagination and writing throughout his career. Jay married Sandy Hansen in 1992 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk, and they were married for 32 years. Together they owned and managed MedType Transcription for 21 years, offering medical transcription services to surrounding healthcare providers and hospitals. Jay’s hobbies included all things sports and he closely followed the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia 76ers, and NASCAR Cup Series. He created and managed various fantasy sports leagues and even sold a custom fantasy football game to an online company in 2009. Jay also found great joy in participating in his children’s athletic careers. Jay was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where he served the congregation through appointed positions and at evangelical events. Most recently, Jay enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, golfing, cycling, assisting with home renovation projects and organizing cluttered spaces for family and friends. Jay is survived by his children, April (Josh) Danon of Omaha, Jayden (Emily) Prauner of Norfolk, and Alex (Zachary) Kirby of Norfolk; six grandchildren, Ava Danon, Charlie Prauner, Scotty Prauner, Skip Prauner, Maxine Kirby, and Theo Kirby; mother, Karon Jansen of Battle Creek; siblings, Jerry (Jan) Prauner of Battle Creek and Jed Prauner of Norfolk. Jay was preceded in death by his father, Gerald; and brother, Joel. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Jay W. Prauner

July 9, 1961 - January 25, 2025