Lorena Lillie "Tootsie" (Gagne) Pragacz, 86, of Soldotna, Alaska passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Kat's Eldercare. She was in ill health for several years.

Lorena was born in Spalding, Michigan at a logging camp to Moses J. Gagne and Alma A. (Murray) Gagne on July 27, 1927.? She attended Liberty School in Spalding, Michigan. She married Edward Theodore Pragacz, Sr. on June 30,1949 in Houghton, Michigan. She worked as head housekeeper for Hokans Cottages for seventeen years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #0462 White Pine, Michigan. Lorena was an avid gardener, canning and preserving much of the food for her family.

Lorena is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Edward T. Pragacz Jr and Rose (Pennala) Pragacz, son and daughter in law, Stephen D. Pragacz and Kay (Croteau) Pragacz, daughter and son in law, Susan A. Pragacz and Fred Barron, daughter, Pamela M. (Pragacz) Estes, son and daughter in law, Michael M. Pragacz and Leticia Anguiano, and daughter, Ann M. (Pragacz) Adams. She is also survived by her ten siblings, brothers and sisters in law: Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Gail Gagne, Mr. & Mrs. Ken Gagne, Mr. & Mrs. Albert Gagne, Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Gagne, Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Carol Gagne, Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Julie Gagne, sisters and brother in laws: Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Dorothy Hughson, Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Betty Arvan, Mr. & Mrs. Neil and Mary Ann Forcy, and Mr. & Mrs. David and Joyce Vandermissen Surviving grandchildren: Darcy (Pragacz) Strayer, Jason Pragacz, Tara (Pragacz) Store, Leslie (LaBine) Moore, Michael Pragacz, Thomas Strapko, Bethany Estes, Isaac Estes, Lillie Pragacz and Kimberly Pragacz. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren.

Lorena was preceded in death by her husband Edward, her son Thomas W. Pragacz, and her parents.

Fondly remembered for her kind nature and gentle spirit, Lorena was beloved by her entire family and will be greatly missed. She had deep connections with each of her grandchildren and took an active role in each of their lives. One granddaughter fondly remembers Lorena by marveling at the fact that she rarely missed her school programs, band concerts, or sporting events. She always made an effort to spend special time alone with each grandchild.

Lorena possessed a rare combination of generosity and an iron will. One story in particular illustrates these traits. One summer, about ten years ago, Lorena was visiting her daughter Ann Adams in Alaska. Recently returning from vacation, a distinct odor of rotting meat was being emitted in the yard near the back of the house. Ann discovered that a large chest freezer containing well over one hundred pounds of frozen fish and meat had quit working. Confidently exclaiming that it would be an easy clean up job, Lorena walked to clean out the toxic meat soup combination in the freezer. Within a mere minute of time she sprinted back inside, barely holding back the overwhelming nausea that comes with smelling such a noxious odor.

A Memorial service will be held 2:00PM on Saturday, October 26th at Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon, Michigan. Burial will follow at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.

The family of Lorena Pragacz wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Allison Smith, Dr. Scott Innes, all the staff at Central Peninsula Hospital, Wound Care at CPH, Kat's Eldercare, Tim Weekley, Chaplain Central Emergency Services, and Frontier Community Services.