Joseph Dennis Pruitt

May 28, 1942 - January 10, 2022

Joseph Dennis Pruitt (aka Joe, Junior, or Dennis) 79, a resident of Overbrook, KS, since 1978, passed away on Monday, January 10, 2022, at a Topeka hospital from Covid related complications. A Celebration of Joe's Life will be held on Saturday, July 2,2022, at 9259 Apple Valley Lane, Ozawkie, KS, at 11:00am with visitation and lunch following.

Joe was born May 28,1942, at a Junction City, KS, hospital, to Master Sergeant Joseph Victor Pruitt and Sarah Bernice RICHARDS Pruitt. The family lived on the Ft. Riley KS base until M/S Joseph Victor retired from the US Army and relocated the family to Topeka, KS, where Bernice grew up and her relatives still lived in the surrounding area. In 1947, the family moved to Wellington, IL, where Joseph Victor grew up and where his family lived and farmed. Joseph Dennis spent most summers in KS with his Grandparents George and Ethel MURPHY Richards; Joe helped with the farm chores, played ball, and went coon hunting with his Grandfather George. Joe enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially with his cousin, George Richards.

With the exception of his Eighth Grade Year when Joe attended the Tecumseh, KS, Public Schools, Joe attended school in Wellington, IL, through his sophomore year of high school when his family moved to Chicago, IL. Joe graduated in 1960 from Fenger HS, graduating with a senior class of 435. While in high school Joe worked at Kresges after school and on weekends. Joe did farm labor work for various farmers in Wellington, IL, and in Tecumseh, KS, where he moved in 1962. He worked as a sub bulk Topeka Capitol Journal delivery driver for the Northeastern KS route. Joe did road maintenance work for Tecumseh Township. In 1974 Joe was employed by Kansas Power and Light, stationed at the Tecumseh Energy Center (now called Evergy), retiring in 1997. In 1978, Joe moved to Overbrook, KS, where he farmed and raised calves. After retirement, Joe worked for the Junction Township doing Road Maintenance.

Joe enjoyed cooking, fishing, boating,and shooting sporting clays and trap. From 2001-2018 he volunteered setting targets at Locust Point Gun Club, Lyndon,KS. Joe loved operating tractors, combines, farm equipment, graders, bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks, and mowers. I don't think he ever met a stranger. We will all miss his smile, laugh, and story telling.

Joe was a member of the Michigan Valley UMC and taught the Teenage Boys Sunday School Class for several years. He was a member of the Osage County Farm Bureau Board and served as President for one year.

Joe is survived by his wife of 46 years, 10 months, Jody Pruitt; his son Nick (Renee Williams) Pruitt; two grandchildren, Tyler (Kelsey) Pruitt and Bailey (Travis) Greene; four great grandchildren, Mason and Coleman Pruitt, and Caiden and Lexie Greene; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; other family members and many friends. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, his sisters and brother-in-laws, Denise(Kenneth)Leverenz and Diane(Jim)Sands, his niece Tracy Powell, his aunts, uncles, and several cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be given to the Osage County 4-H Shooting Sports. Please send donations to: Pruitt, 3743 SE Howard Drive, Topeka, KS 66605