Our time with William C. Pruner of Marion Center, PA came to an end in the early morning of Wednesday, July 31st, 2024. Following a family vacation in the Outer Banks with his wife, children, and grandchildren, Bill found relief from metastatic renal cancer with comfort and dignity at the ECU Health Medical Center Palliative Care Unit in Greenville, NC. There he remained held and loved by his family throughout his end of life journey. Bill was 67 years old at the time of his death.
Born March 2nd, 1957 in Indiana, PA, Bill was the oldest son of Edward and Patty (Thomas) Pruner. He grew up in Chambersville, PA with one brother, Tom, and three sisters; Paula (d. 1981), Susan, and Amy. As a senior at Marion Center Area High School, Bill enlisted in the US Navy in 1975 and served until his honorable discharge in December 1979. At that time, he returned to Marion Center to make a home with his wife, Kelly (Tucker) and their first child.
Bill called Marion Center home for the remainder of his life. He served the community as a volunteer fireman and Borough Council member and was always proud of the part he played in establishing the borough’s water system. Bill was a member of the electrician’s union and committed himself to a life-long career with the Keystone Generating Station in Shelocta, PA as a crew member of the mobile maintenance department and then as a maintenance project planner.
Surviving Bill and celebrating his life are his wife, Kelly (née Tucker, and formerly Colgan); and his children Angela Caruso (husband D. Chad), Elica Shaw (partner Shasta Wilkinson), and W. Zachary (wife Melissa [Bargerstock]). Eight grandchildren have the privilege of referring to Bill by his most important title: “Pop-Pop.” They include Roman Caruso, Savanna Shaw, Cheyenne Pruner, Rowdy Shaw, Logan Pruner, Finley Shaw, River Caruso, and Tristan Pruner. Bill is also survived by his brother, Tom; his sisters, Susan (partner Steve Zacherl) and Amy Clark (husband Roger); as well as his nephew Brody Clark, and nieces Sara Pruner and Shaelyn Clark. In addition to his immediate family, there are many extended family members, life-long friends, and coworkers who will continue to cherish the connection they had with Bill.
Bill worked tirelessly to ensure his family and theirs were always provided for. When he took time off, he enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s events, celebrating occasions with his family and a good meal, local PA hunting and fishing, and traveling to his favorite places. These treasured places were the Outer Banks in North Carolina, his family’s camp in Potter County, PA, and the Wanikewin Lodge in Ontario, Canada where he took an annual fishing trip on the Pickerel River.
Bill will be honored at the Lefdahl Funeral Home in Indiana, PA with visitation on Monday, August 5th at 3-7 p.m., and visitation and a funeral service on Tuesday, August 6th at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Marion Center Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or food offerings for the family, Bill would prefer donations be made on his behalf to the Wanikewin Lodge in Canada. This lodge is co-owned and operated by a local Shelocta resident who plans to use any donated funds to support the lodge’s maintenance and development, so visitors may continue to enjoy fishing and time outdoors in a place Bill so loved. Donation checks should be written as payable to the Wanikewin Lodge with “In memory of Bill Pruner” in the memo line. Donations can be sent to: Wanikewin Lodge, ℅ Nicolas Isidor, 278 Gastown Road, Shelocta, PA, 15774.
