John Prodan

[studestu]

John Prodan 83 SDC member from Rapid City, South Dakota passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2008 in Rochester, Minn. John along with his wife Ruth are members of the Dakotas and Western Wheels Chapters, SDC. John lived a very interesting and fulfilling life. For a complete obituary go to http//www.behrenswilson.com/showObitEntry.asp?nObitEntryID=346

[speed_machine]

John will be missed by all that knew him.

Jim Rapp

John Prodan
RAPID CITY - John Prodan, 83, Rapid City, died Saturday, May 10, 2008, in Rochester, Minn., as a result of complications following surgery. John was born Nov. 17, 1924, in East Orange, NJ, the first child of Vasille and Cleta Blanche Neville Prodan. He spent his childhood years in New Jersey and Indiana. On Dec. 29, 1945, he married Ruth Jennie Larson of New Britain, Conn., and was proud of their 62-1/2 years spent together. A career Air Force officer, John served his country for 31 years as an engineer, test pilot and "space school" instructor. Many Apollo astronauts were his students. His service also included a tour of duty in Vietnam. In addition to Master's Degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering, he earned an M.B.A. at UCLA after his retirement from the Air Force. Beyond his Air Force retirement, he continued flying aircraft for a weather research program through the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and test piloting aircraft through Kohlman Systems Research in Lawrence, Kan. He also taught classes through Embry-Riddle at Ellsworth and Minot Air Force Bases, continuing to mentor graduate students well into his seventies. John's hobbies included owning and driving Studebakers, a love for all kinds of aircraft, and a lifelong interest in model railroading. He was actively involved in the Dakotas Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club and he enjoyed a long, close relationship with the Black Hills Gideon Camp, serving as treasurer until his death. He was also an active member of many other local organizations, including the Order of Daedalians (Eagle Wing) at Ellsworth Air Force Base and the Military Officers Association. John and Ruth have been members of Calvary Baptist Church of Rapid City for more than 25 years, where he served as a deacon and taught adult Sunday school for many years. He and his family have lived in Rapid City for 30 years. He loved the city and was always pleased to share its beauty and points of interest with his many out-of-town relatives and friends. In 1999, he was instrumental in bringing the Annual International Studebaker Meet to Rapid City, and in 2003, he was a primary organizer of the Canberra (B-57) Association Annual Reunion also held here. John is survived by his wife Ruth, Rapid City; daughter Susan and husband Ben Bennett, Flint TX; sons Robert and wife Gillian Prodan, Mission Viejo, CA, John V. Prodan, Sunnyvale CA, and Donald Prodan and wife Tana Weeks, Laguna Nigel, CA; daughters Karen and husband Darrell Bleazard, Salt Lake City, UT, and Nancy Ann and husband Michael Barnes, Spearfish; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Bennett, TX, David Prodan, CA, Steven Prodan, CA, Jacklyn Prodan, CO, Richard Prodan, CA, Kristen Bleazard, UT, and Joseph Barnes, Spearfish; two sisters, Victoria Swain, Ann Arbor, MI, and Silvia Lange, Nicasio, CA, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by three infant daughters, Ellen Marie, Nancy Ellen, and one who was stillborn prematurely, one infant granddaughter, Jacqueline Ruth Bennett, TX, and his sister, Ellen Neville, IN. If anyone would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gideon's through the Black Hills Gideon Camp, PO Box 2067, Rapid City, SD 57709. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home, 632 St. Francis, Rapid City. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, May 19, at Calvary Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, with full military honors provided by the Ellsworth AFB Honor Guard. Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home is in care of arrangements and condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.behrenswilson.com.
Published in the Rapid City Journal on 5/16/2008.

[Studedude1961]

Mr. Prodan was certainly a class act. I enjoyed visiting with him at several SDC events. The last time I talked with him was at a meet in Gering, Nebraska in 2002. He was having some health issues but seemed very philosophical and certainly had a youthful outlook. I know he will be missed in Studebaker circles. My condolences to Ruth and his family.

Studedude1961
John Waddell

[studesnbldr]

What a shock to hear of John's passing. Hard to imagine the Studebaker Club without him. John was a prince of a man, always upbeat, witty and a pleasure to converse with no matter the occasion. I often admired John's '57 Golden Hawk and the many, many miles he and Ruth had traveled in that car. John's involvment in the annual Dakota's Chapter Labor Day events and particularly in the 1999 Studebaker International Meet held in Rapid City, always made the gatherings true successes.

Below is a photo of John, jovial as always, sitting behind his beloved Golden Hawk with fellow SDCer & thread poster Stu Tritt at the 2004 Dakotas Chapter Black Hills Labor Day Event.




Sincerest and most heartfelt condolences to Ruth and the entire Prodan family.

Christof Kheim
---studesnbldr
christof@rockymountainstudebaker.net