Carole Prater

May 2, 1935 - December 17, 2020

A Memorial Mass for Carole will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska. A Rosary will be prayed Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva. A public graveside committal of ashes will take place in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery following the Memorial Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Wilma Carole (Branch) Prater was born May 2, 1935 in Fulton, MO and passed away at home in Geneva, NE on December 17, 2020 at the age of 85. Carole was the third of six children born to Willis Roscoe and Lucille Elizabeth (Sullivan) Branch. Carole was baptized on May 25, 1935, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fulton MO. She attended St. Peter's Catholic School in Fulton, MO until she and her family moved to her Grandfather’s farm. While living on the farm, Carole attended Maple Grove Country school. After the Branch family moved to Mexico, MO in 1941, she began attending St. Brendan’s Catholic School where she graduated as valedictorian of the 1953 class. Mom and her brother and sisters loved their time on the farm, taking their horse to the country school and doing various chores. One family memory always stood out amongst the siblings. Carole’s dad, Willis, would insist the garden be tended while he traveled for work, a task they typically "forgot"...until hearing the unmistakable sound of his Model T chugging up the road at which time they'd race out and start tending. After graduation, Carole began working as a secretary at Arthur Refractory brick plant, one of two fire-brick companies in Mexico. Card parties were the thing to do in 1950s America and at one of those social gatherings, Carole met a young, recently returned Navy sailor, Kenneth Prater, whom she started dating. They were married April 7, 1956 in St. Brendan’s Church. To this union seven children were born – Anthony Curtis in 1957, Philip Alan in 1958, Janice Ann in 1960, Mary Carole in 1961, Kenneth Branch in 1962, Timothy Francis in 1964 and Donald Shane in 1967. In Kenneth’s career as a grain elevator manager, he and Carole and their ever-growing young family moved a number of times – Louisiana, MO; Salina, KS and ultimately to Geneva, NE in 1959 where Ken became the manager at Geneva Grain Company. They enriched the Geneva community for the rest of their lives. Carole had her own full time job as mother to seven children and the occasional dozen or so in the neighborhood who would routinely show up to play and eat. While many people commented on how much mom resembled Jackie Kennedy, we always thought her inner and outer beauty far exceeded the resemblance. In addition to providing many neighborhood children with meals and snacks, made with a pinch or two of love and affection, mom also fed the numerous grain-hauling truckers dad brought home from the elevator. She was known by many for her mouth-watering Denver biscuits as well as for her grace and hospitality. No one ever left her house hungry. If the measure of a person is the number of lives they have touched, then mom's glass overflowed. Mom quickly became a staple of the Geneva community. Many of her neighbors on I Street, where mom and dad originally lived when they first moved to Geneva, remained her life-long friends. Everyone looked up to - and out for - Carole simply for the infectious love of life she radiated. A rising tide lifts all boats and mom's personality lifted the spirits of all those with whom she came in contact. She truly was the embodiment of St. Francis of Assisi's admonishment to his followers: Preach the gospel always, and if necessary use words. Throughout her life, mom held an unwavering faith in God. A life-long Catholic, she raised her children in the faith and instilled a strong sense of decency, morality and empathy towards others. Carole always saw, and brought out, the best qualities in everyone she met. She was always willing to help – caring for elderly neighbors and friends even when she herself was elderly. Mom spent years helping with Meals on Wheels; driving friends in need to medical appointments out of town; donating blood; serving on the Altar Society, and many more. Carole instilled her love of vegetable gardening in her children by teaching them the value of planting, tending, harvesting, and canning vegetables as well as providing years of fabulous meals to her growing family. She took a special pride in her beautiful – often hybrid – iris flowers. She spent hours tending to her beloved gardens, feeding birds, and enjoying being outside in nature. She loved walking across the back yards to her daughter Jan’s property - enjoying her menagerie of flowers; watching the finches, Baltimore Orioles, wood ducks, screech owls; and holding a hummingbird in the palm of her hand. Her gentle nature allowed her the opportunity to approach and pet a hummingbird that once sat upon her clothesline. Mom came from a very musical family, playing her beloved piano from a very young age for herself and the singing Branch siblings – who performed the popular songs of the day for the local Mexico, MO radio station KXEO. Her love of music also translated into 40 devoted years of playing the organ at St. Joseph Catholic church for mass and special occasions. Her love of music was passed on to her family. Mom received a piano for Christmas in 1970 which she played daily giving her great comfort. Mom especially loved having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren surrounding her while she played and having them join in with their voices. Mom and dad enjoyed traveling often to see family across the United States. She loved visiting her children and grandchildren. A highlight for mom was to be able to travel twice to Panama where her daughter Mary and husband Harley have retired. She was in awe of the Central American culture, the tropical environment, the beautiful birds and loved the warm, sunny days. Carole was preceded in death by the love of her life of 64 years, Kenneth on November 24, 2020. She is survived by children Curtis (Deb, daughters Hannah and Gabrielle); Phillip (Nancy, son Neal); Janice (Alan, daughters Shelbi & Kenzi); Mary (Harley, daughters Michelle, Robin and Katie): Ken (Susannah, children Megan, Tylor, Elana); Tim (Judy) and Don; great-grandchildren Kalon, Kade, Leighton, Leo, Leah, Taylar, Owen, Paxton and Tyler; her beloved sisters Rose, Sharon and Brenda; multiple nieces and nephews.