In Passing – May 2024

Richard (Rick) Emil Chalupnik

Richard (Rick) Emil Chalupnik, 85, a 27-year resident of PebbleCreek, died on March 10, 2024. Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Isabelle, and is survived by his beautiful wife of 62 years, Carolyn (Kiki); their son, Rick (Sue) Chalupnik and children Kali and Trevor; their daughter, Janet (Mike) Pantazis and children Tyler and Travis; brother Ron (Joan) Chalupnik and sister Shirley Zakavec.

Rick was born in Oak Park, Ill., in 1938 and moved to Stratford, Mo., at 14. He attended Stratford High School before joining the Navy, where he was stationed in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor in 1956.

He then worked a successful 30-year career at International Business Machines (IBM), earning five of the coveted IBM “Means Service” awards. Rick was a volunteer EMT and Firefighter for the Long Grove, Ill., Fire Department for 13 years.

Rick met the love of his life, Kiki, in 1959 at Salem Evangelical Free Church in Chicago, Ill. They were married on Nov. 25, 1961. Their son Rick was born in 1968 and daughter Janet was born in 1971. Rick was a dedicated, loving husband and father who would stop at nothing to care for his wife and children.

Rick was an amazing “Papa” to his four grandchildren: Kali, Tyler, Trevor, and Travis, and he prayed constantly for his family.

Rick and Kiki invested in building friendships and served in the Church together over their 62 years of marriage. They were members of the Evangelical Free Church in Des Plaines, Ill., for 35 years (1961-1996). In 1996, they became some of the original members of Compass Church, Goodyear, Ariz., and served together at Compass for 27 years. He was faithful and consistent in helping family and friends know and love Jesus. Rick unexpectedly passed away in his home on a night when their LIFE group was already there for dinner.

Though he was a man who was very serious about his faith in Jesus, he rarely took himself all that seriously. Often the life of the party, Rick would always keep people laughing through telling jokes. He loved boating, fishing, watching western movies, sitting in the warm Arizona sun, and mostly, spending time with family and friends.

A Celebration of Life service was held on April 19 at Compass Church in Goodyear.

Reverend Rodney Lee A Pruss

The Reverend Rodney Lee A Pruss, 82, passed away on March 16, 2024. He was born June 11, 1941, the last of 10 sons of Albert and Bessie (Tresnak) Pruss.

Father Rod attended schools in Dodge, North Bend, and graduated from Shelby High School in 1959. He graduated from Creighton with a BSBA in 1963 and from St. Thomas Seminary in June 1969. He was ordained in Fremont, Nebraska’s St. Patrick Church on June 5, 1969, and celebrated his first Mass in conjunction with his parents’ 50th anniversary on June 7, in Fremont. He served parishes in Grand Island and North Platte for four years prior to entering the Air Force on July 13, 1973. Father Rod retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force on Sept. 30, 1993 having served 10 assignments in the United States Air Force including wonderful places such as Japan, Turkey, Germany, and five bases stateside. After retirement he was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ravenna, Neb., for 12 years. Upon retirement from active ministry, he moved to Goodyear, Ariz., and assisted at St. Thomas Aquinas in Avondale from 2006 to present.

Survivors include multiple nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Albert, Francis, James, Emil, Edward, Richard, Leonard, Eugene, and Theodore.

His favorite saying: “Ordained after Latin went out and hope to die before it comes back!”

William R. Smith

William Reuel Smith, 83, passed away at his home in Goodyear, Ariz., on March 13, 2024. Bill was born in Huntington, W.V., son of Reuel Smith and Kathleen Rios. Bill was an only child and is survived by his wife, Pam Smith; his daughters, Dina Michael Lugger and Sabrina Smith; and his granddaughter, Kathleen Michael.

Bill and his wife Pam moved to PebbleCreek in 2007 and Bill was instrumental in starting the first PebbleCreek Corvette Group, which continues to grow.

Bill served in two branches of military service, the United States Air Force and the Marines. He had a hunger for adventure, and tried to grasp onto every experience and maximize every opportunity. His spirit of exploration knew no bounds. His passion for the outdoors kept him young. He loved to hunt and fish. He loved to ride horses in the backcountry, ski the mountains, and explore the depths of the ocean floor. Bill enjoyed the game of golf and the competition of racing. He was passionate about all sports, and enjoyed watching games and cheering on his favorite teams.

Bill learned to fly airplanes at a very early age, hearing his mother say: “Billy Reuel, don’t go too high and don’t fly too fast.” With a wink and smile he would do just the opposite. He had a passion for cars, boats, motorcycles, and anything on wheels.

Bill had a successful career in real estate, living in Lake Tahoe for several years. He owned a Big O Tire store, managed a grocery store, and retired as a Senior Salesman after 20 years with General Electric Plastics. Bill’s only motto in life was to “Live.” He had a bet with his best friend in Huntington that “he who dies with the most toys wins.” A bet he knew he could never lose.

Bill survived countless surgeries and operations during his lifetime. I often heard him repeat the phrase, “I defied death one more time.” As a child he would tell his mom, “My heart says No, but my feet just GO!”

His adventurous life took a toll on his body and he fought hard to keep moving, but in the end, his feet said No.

He will be missed by his family and friends, and his wife Pam of 40 years, but he will never be forgotten.

Edward Springer

Edward “Eddie” Springer of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away March 30, 2024, at the age of 81. He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Latrobe, Penn., to the late Edward and Laura Springer. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Carole Springer. He is survived by his partner Phyllis Thompson, daughter Diane (Steve) Sutton, sister Shirley Gallagher, brother Robert Springer, and grandchildren Kylie Sutton and Brett Sutton. Eddie was a long-time member of the PebbleCreek Senior Softball Association. If you’d like to make a donation in his honor, please email [email protected].

Interment was held April 10 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.