Herbert J. Pruemer, 85, of Teutopolis, passed away at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 18, 2012 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 23, 2012 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis. Burial with military graveside rites will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Teutopolis, with military . Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. There will be a 6:30 p.m. prayer service Sunday evening at the church. Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities or the donor's choice. Bauer Funeral Home in Teutopolis is assisting the family with arrangements. www.bauerfh.com

Herb was a special man who impacted the lives of those around him. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. The most important part of his life was his family. He enjoyed the company of his wife, Dorthy and their grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed coon hunting and running foz hounds. He also took great pride in watching his kids and grandkids participate in sports.

He had a great work ethic. He was a dairy farmer until 1974. During this time, he also was a milk hauler. In all of the years he picked up milk, the only day he missed was the day his oldest daughter was married. When he gave up hauling milk in 1974, he moved on to his favorite profession. He began driving a school bus for the Teutopolis School District. Herb drove a morning and afternoon route, but his favorite was the kindergarten routes. This is when he impacted so many people. He was the first person many students met when they started school. He routinely brightened students days with sticks of gum, suckers, and on holidays, bags of cookies and candies. Every St. Patricks day, he would dye his hair green. For nearly twenty years, he picked up and dilivered every kindergarten student who did not live in the Teutopolis city limits and attended kindergarten at Teutopolis schools.

During this time, he only missed a handful of days due to harvesting his crops. Herb drove the bus on many occasions for the boys basketball team. One of the most special times in his life was being able to drive the bus for the 1986 state championship basketball team.

With his passing, Herb Pruemer will be missed by many.

Herb is survived by two sons and two daughters: Barbara (husband Greg) Thompson, Terry (wife Kate) Pruemer, Randy (special friend Tracy and her children: Britani, Caitlan and Danielle Mc Kibben), Bonnie (husband Rick) Meyers. Eleven grandchilren: Jeff
(Laurie) Thompson, Jason Thompson, Josh Pruemer, Sara(Gruen) Von Behrens, Beka Pruemer, Shannon(Aaron) Spears, Jesse (April) Pruemer, Tasha (fiance' Jeff Waldrop) Pruemer, Heather (Jeremy Szabo) Meyers, Larissa (Mike) Zerrusen and DeAdria (Brent) Spindler. Twenty great grandchildren: Leigha Thompson and finace" Brad Hecht, Derek Thompson, Cierra Thompson,Shelby Thompson, Codie Thompson, Karlie Thompson, annika Yost, Noah Yost and sereneAlsahli, Katelyn Von Behrens, Kayden Zerrusen, Kayleigh Zerrusen, Karson Zerrusen, Ty Szabo, Callie Szabp and Payron Spindler. Step-great-grandchildren, Kiah Spears, Izick Bryon, and Abbey Bryon.

Herb is also surviuved by his brothers: Jerome (wife Louise) Pruemer of Shelbyville; David Pruemer and Jerry (weife Carol) both of Teutopolis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorthy, brothers: Clarence "Bud", Ed, and Henry "Butch", sister: Harriet "Sis" Borries and sister-in-law: Esther Pruemer.