LAWRENCE OSCAR PRATKA
July 30, 1923 ˜ January 6, 2023

Lawrence Oscar Pratka, a highly respected Clark County contractor and a much-loved, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died on Jan. 6, exactly two months to the day after the passing of his wife of 76 years, Shirley Alice Pratka.

His grandson Nick explained his passing this way, "This morning at 99 years old my Grandpa headed off on his journey to reunite with my Grandma. She was his soulmate...so he had to go. He was incredibly devoted to my Grandma and a role model for what a spouse should be...both in sickness and in health."

Pratka, a Clark County resident since 1945, was born on July 30, 1923 in Weimer, TX, to Louis Raymond and Adela Marak Pratka. He spent most of his growing-up years, however, in Needville, TX.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46 and supervised a Quartermaster Boat Company of four "swamp boats" and more than 30 men based in Portland, OR. He earned the Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal and American Theater Service Medal as a World War II veteran. He met his wife Shirley, who worked at the Vancouver Barracks as a secretary, at the USO Club in Portland, where he and fellow soldiers gathered to relax and dance.

Pratka was a lifelong Catholic, and he and Shirley married in what was then St. James Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be held for him in that same church (now called The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater) at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. The cathedral is at 218 W. 12th Street. An 11 a.m. Graveside Service will be held at Mother Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 1401 E. 29th Street.

Pratka began as a residential builder, and then spent more than 40 years as a successful commercial contractor building local churches, schools, banks/credit unions, courthouses and jails, community libraries, and civic businesses. He also spent countless hours in service to the Catholic Church repairing, reinforcing and remodeling Providence Academy, St. James Church and Our Lady of Lourdes School and Church.

After he retired, he continued to stay busy. As his granddaughter Christy recalled, "After retiring he still went to 'work.' He had duplexes to take care of, yards to be mowed, things that needed done at the historic Weber Building, a cabin at the Wind River to be winterized, and a greenhouse full of plants to tend for his garden. His work was endless." Both Nick and Christy talk of the work ethic he instilled in them, and the way he was "at his core a provider" for his family.

Pratka was a member of the Knights of Columbus and took special pride in being a "charter member" of Carpenters Union Local 1715 in Vancouver.

He is survived by his five children, Steve (Bonnie) Pratka, Gary (Connie) Pratka, Scott Pratka, Julie (Karl) Karja, all of Vancouver; and Michael (Stephanie) Pratka, of Carson, WA; his treasured grandchildren, Christy Hartshorn, Nick (Jaime) Pratka, Danya Guild and Christian Sutherland; three great-grandchildren, Cooper, Caleb and Ellie; his caring sister-in-law, Marilyn Andrews; and special family friend, Crystal Pratka. He was preceded in death just three months ago by his son and namesake, Lawrence Pratka.