Leonard Pryweller

Sept. 2. 1922 to May 22. 2006 

Leonard Pryweller, 83, long-time business owner of Mr. Leonard Furs in South Bend, died Monday at his home. Mr. Pryweller is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth Kaplan Pryweller, for whom he served as caregiver. He is also survived by a son, Jon, daughter-in-law, Sue, grand-daughters, Jennifer, Alison and Jordyn all of Indianapolis, and a sister, Cissy Maisel-Kellman of Detroit. His son, Dale, preceded him in death in 2000. Mr. Pryweller was born and lived in South Bend until July 2004, when he moved to Indianapolis to be closer to his family. He graduated from South Bend Central High School, and remained active in the alumni group with his classmates until his death. He attended Indiana University where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity. 

A WW II veteran, Mr. Pryweller enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA where he was an expert marksman. While serving, he worked on the camp newspaper and programs to entertain troops. He married while in the service, and after being discharged in 1945, worked in Chicago. Mr. Pryweller attended fur design school in New York, graduating in 1948.

He returned to South Bend where he worked for his father at New York Fur Shop, 120 N. Michigan Street, where the First Source Bank Building now sits. He purchased the business from his parents in 1964 and the name was changed to Mr. Leonard Furs. "Mr. Leonard' was nationally known in the fur industry as a design expert and even after retirement received frequent requests for his services. In 1972. as a result of the urban renewal project downtown, the business relocated to 314 N. Michigan Street. The distinctive budding served as home to his business until he retired in 2001. Mr. Pryweller was an active member in the South Bend Rotary Club for almost 40 years. He was deeply involved with fundraising for a number of Charitable projects, including a memorial to local Jewish War Veterans. He had been a member of Sinai Synagogue and Temple Beth-El, and was an ardent fan of Notre Dame. Mr. Pryweller and his wife are founding members of the National Late-Onset Tay-Sachs Foundation. 

Mr. Pryweller enjoyed wood-working, and as a member of the Midwest Bricklin Club participated many times in road rallies with his distinctive bright orange Bricklin automobile. which was a hobby late in his life. After moving to Indianapolis to live in full retirement he enjoyed reading, social opportunities and spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters. The funeral service will be at I p.m. Thursday at McGann Hay, Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood Drive. Donations may be made to National Tay-Sachs and ASS Diseases Association (NTSAD), 2001 Beacon Street. Suite 204, Brighton, MA 02135,

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, and FindAGrave.com

10/15/2023 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85204663/leonard-pryweller