William Preuninger

William Buck Merrill Preuninger, 87, of Great Falls, a retired high school counselor, died on November 30, 2013 at a local nursing home.A funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.William Merrill Preuninger was born April 3, 1926 to William and Edith Preuninger. William was born in Fort Benton and they lived in Geraldine where his dad worked at the Hardware store. Later they would move to the big city of Fort Benton where his dad would take a job as an undersheriff. William would love to go swimming in the river in the summer and skating on the ponds in the winter.William also worked a ranch job in the summer, where he picked up his nick name Buck . His dad lost his job in Fort Benton when the sheriff changed, so the family moved to Missoula, to a home in Orchard Gardens. Buck enrolled in Missoula County High School where both he and his brother, Charlie, graduated. He decided to enlist with some buddies in the Navy. They left in June for boot camp. Boot camp caused a severe infection and Buck spent a majority of his time in the infirmary.Buck loved football and played well through high school. Buck's college years were filled with football playing for the Grizzlies. That is the time when he met the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane O'Loughlin. He courted and married her the same year he graduated, June 6, 1950.They had five children and spent time in exotic destination such as Browning, Hamilton, Thompson Falls, and finally Great Falls. He received his counseling degree and wanted some place east of the divide where the sun shines more and the wind whistles down the plains.Buck enjoyed a good cigar, camping, a ditch , hiking with his family, and a good book. His family was always his first priority putting all of us through school, after high school. Buck shared everything with his wife of 63 years.Buck cared for Jane after her stroke in 1992 in their home for 10 years. Then they move to the Lodge retirement center. They were cared for there by a great staff and became a mainstay of the community.Buck will be remembered for his dedication to his counseling at Great Falls High School,his football time with the Grizzlies, foremost his beautiful wife Jane and five children who continue to try to live a life he wanted for us all.Surviving Buck are his loving and giving wife, Jane;daughters Maureen P.O. Fournier, Kathy (Lin) Akey, Colleen (David) Kaste, and Eileen (Bruce) Clark; son William (Carol) Preuninger; brother Charles L. Preuninger; grandchildren Michael Orozco, Manuel Orozco, Joseph (Erin) Fournier, Josh (Jaci) Akey, Peter (Vivienne) Akey, Joseph (Sarah) Akey, Matthew (Jenny) Kaste, Kathrine Kaste, Corey (Shaya) Clark, Terri Clark, Tony (Logan) Clark Christopher Preuninger, Julie Preuninger, Stephen Preuninger; great grandchildren Nicolas and Gabriel Orozco, Jace and Dean Fournier, Anna, Wyatt Akey, Mary, Jack, Sam Akey, Ashton, Cooper, Brynley Akey, andMiles Kaste.In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405, or charity of donors choice.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.