Daniel Charles Pruss Sr.

Daniel “Dan” Charles Pruss Sr., 81, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on Friday June 30, 2023 at his home. He is preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Pruss and Joesphine (Strozyk) Pruss; siblings, Phillip Pruss Sr., Frances Masty, and Dorothy Zakrzewski. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Anna Marie (Brewczynski) Pruss; brother, Stephen Pruss (Meta); children, Daniel “Chuck” Pruss Jr. (Joanne), Roxanna Ousley (Ed), Dana Ward, Cary Pruss (Krista), Nicholas Pruss, and Bobby Plant (Karen); 17 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Born July 3, 1941, Dan attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School. He met his wife of 63 years when they were both seventeen. Married on July 20, 1959, they went on to have five children and were blessed with the addition of a foster son in 1967. Dan was known for his strong work ethic and mechanical aptitude. He spent 37 years at Chicopee as a maintenance technician. Known to family and friends as someone who could work on anything from cars to furniture, Dan was quick to volunteer a helping hand saying “give it here, I’ll fix it.”

Dan was a self taught musician who could play drums, harmonica, guitar, and accordion. From the 1960’s through the 1990’s his band, Danny and the Polka Dots, played polka music for countless weddings and dances all across the state of Arkansas. For sixteen consecutive years his band played Oktoberfest in Hot Springs. When on stage his love of music and larger than life personality were on display.

Dan lived in a way that expressed his deep Christian faith and commitment to family. He was a lifelong member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and served as a leading member of the Rosary Sodality. Dan’s faith in God helped him overcome many challenges in life and led him to recovery. He celebrated 22 years of sobriety on April 4, 2023. His love, kindness, and compassion made him a great friend and mentor in his church and AA communities. To know him was to love him.

Family and friends are invited to attend services on Wednesday July 5, 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Marche, Ark. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM and will be followed by a Rosary at 10 AM and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Celebrant Father Rubén Quinteros.