James Lou Pratt

James Lou Pratt, age 64 of Hanover, Illinois died on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at Midwest Medical Center, Galena. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. Military rites will be accorded by the Hanover V.F.W. Post #5300. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service. A visitation will be held from 10:00 – 12:00 Noon, prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Hanover V.F.W. Post # 5300 in Jim’s memory.
Jim was born on December 16, 1948, the son of Vinton and Helen (Kus) Pratt in Chicago, Illinois. He attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, IL and later graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He served his country in the United States Marines from 1966-1967. Jim married Joanne Elizabeth Hicken on July 7, 2001 in Galena, Illinois.
Jim was a Firefighter for over 30 years and worked for the Des Plaines Fire Department, where he served as Deputy Chief before retiring in 2002. He was a member of the Hanover V.F.W. Post #5300 and the National Rifleman Association. He enjoyed the outdoors spending time skeet shooting, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed cooking, traveling and animals. He loved watching the Science and History channels. Most of all, Jim loved spending time with his family, friends and dogs, Otis, Chloe and Max.
Jim will be dearly missed by his wife, Joanne; two brothers, Emil and William Pratt of Florida; three sisters, Vera (Dino) Gualano of Florida, Patricia Denaer of Illinois and Gloria Swan of Idaho; five nephews, Jeffrey Denaer, Donald Swan, Anthony Pratt, Miguel Vargas and Junior Vargas and four nieces, Patty Pacienza, Alyssa Johnson, Christina Swan and Natalie Pratt.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Vinton and Helen.