Melvin “Carl” Prater, 69, Wells, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at the St. Luke’s Heart Institute in Kansas City. He was surrounded by close family. From his birth on December 9, 1950, until his death, Carl touched the lives of those he encountered.
The youngest of three boys, Carl was born in Salina, KS, and spent the majority of his youth in and around Minneapolis, KS. In 1969, He graduated from Casa Roble High School in Sacramento, California.
Shortly after graduation, Carl was called upon by the United States Army to serve his country in the Vietnam War. He fought bravely for nearly two years. During his service, Carl was struck by shrapnel from a nearby grenade. For this he earned a Purple Heart, and a scar he carried the rest of his life.
Following his Service, Carl married Deborah Hagerman on December 27, 1974. They remained together until his death. Carl and Deborah raised two sons, Jesse (Christie) and Cale (Laura, and were blessed with six grandchildren: Malory, Breanna, Gabriel, Elijah, Addison, and Jace. “Papa Carl” was fiercely devoted to his grandchildren, supporting them in their accomplishments and activities, and spending ample time with them.
Carl spent 48 years in the Line-Building trade, the majority of those with Capital Electric, based out of Kansas City. Through the years he developed many strong friendships, some of which continued until his death. He retired in 2017.
Carl was also an avid outdoorsman and passed his knowledge and passion on to his children. Many hours were spent on the rivers and fields of Kansas with his boys, hunting for deer and pheasants, and fishing for big, flathead catfish.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Richard and Darrell Dean.
Graveside services will be at 2:00 P.M., Monday, December 23, at Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis with military honors. The family will receive friends from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 Sunday at Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salina Rescue Mission and may be left in care of the funeral home.