Wesley Bruce Printz, 82, Sturgis, died Monday, November 5, 2012, at Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 8, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Will Olsen officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Wes was born January 24, 1930, at Wasta, SD, to Oscar and Theresa (Napier) Printz. He was raised in the Elm Springs area during the very dry 30's with his brothers and sister until he joined the Navy in 1947. He served in the Far East and Korea aboard the USS Wiltsie until his honorable discharge in 1951. Following his return to South Dakota, he was employed at the Black Hills VA Health Care Center at Fort Meade until his retirement.

Wes served on the Sturgis town council and was a city magistrate. Wes was also a Boy Scout troop leader (#16).

After his retirement, Wes worked as a contract electrician in the Sturgis area. Wes also enjoyed working in his woodshop.

Wes was a former member of the South Dakota Army National Guard, the Korean War Veterans Association, the USS Wiltsie Association, and the VFW.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey Printz, Sturgis; sons, James (Nancy) Printz, Rockford, IL, and Trent (Maggie) Printz, Culpepper, Virginia; daughters, Debra (Rick) Palamino, Herndon, Virginia, Carol (Hugh) Brechtel, Rapid City, SD, and Cheryl (Henry) Wiechern, Emerson Manitoba, Canada; brothers, Martin (Shirley) Printz, New Underwood, SD, and Bill (Pat) Printz, Sidney, NE; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include step-children, Greg (Jacque) Lee, Lincoln, NE, Pam (Alan) Williams, Sturgis, SD, and Debbie Johnston, Justin, TX; and five step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Ambulance Service.

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