Funeral services for John Prettyman 47, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, December 30, 2022 at First Christian Church with Bro. Rick Prettyman officiating. Visitation will be held from 1pm - 2pm prior to the service at First Christian Church. Graveside services will be held in Central City, Nebraska on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 2:00pm.
John Prettyman was born in Pensacola, Florida, the son of Richard and Beverly Prettyman and grew up in Papillion, Nebraska alongside his siblings. During his younger years, he developed a love of basketball which he only developed further throughout his life. The game also provided him with the chance to meet the love of his life. One evening while playing for his high school team, a beautiful cheerleader caught his eye. Of course, this began a connection that God definitely had His hand in. John and Gwen Becker were joined in marriage at Plains Baptist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 21, 1995. They added to their family with the births of their 5 children. John was a great father to each of them. He was a sacrificial provider for his family and very involved in each of their lives. He passed his love of basketball to them and was proud to coach the teams they were on as children. When 2 of the girls went on to play for The Master’s University teams, he grinned with great honor.
John spent his entire lifetime dedicated to Christ Jesus. His drive to minister to everyone he met was enormous. He loved all people. There were no boundaries set for who he met nor how he treated them. John was the epitome of what a pastor should be and do. He began his road to pastoring when he was a very young man at Twin Cities Baptist in Bellevue as a youth pastor and then at Mts. Runn Baptist Church in Zionsville, IN. He was then served as Senior Pastor at Open Door Baptist Church in Cincinnati, OH, Grace Bible Fellowship in Central City, NE, Grace Bible Church in Hollister, CA and most recently at First Christian Church in Nacogdoches, TX. During this time, he was afforded the opportunity to enhance his studies, eventually attaining his Doctorate of Ministry in May of 2022. This was his calling and John touched so many lives in his short years. His gift of counseling and mentoring was astonishing at the least. He loved being around people, more especially those he pastored; however, he was dedicated solely to reaching everyone possible with the word of God. His complete devotion to Christ was shown in his life every day.
John, being a devout man of God, was also a superior husband and father. His family was of utmost importance and he always put them in the forefront of his days, only holding Jesus Christ above them. John was especially happy when he had the family together for vacations or simply playing a round of golf. He found great joy in watching his children grow into young adults and when he was blessed with the birth of a granddaughter, his joy overflowed! His ultimate desire in life was for he and Gwen to live by the example Jesus left and he did this daily as well as passing this incredible way of life onto his children. His love of Christ allowed him to be especially dedicated to his family as he walked the path laid out for him. He also enjoyed the occasional golf or frisbee golf game and was honored to volunteer as a firefighter.
John will be greatly missed by every life he touched. His smile and kindness he bestowed upon others, the friendly fellowship, Bible teachings and example will forever be embedded in the memory of each person he surrounded himself with.
John is survived by his wife of over 27 years, Gwen Prettyman; son, Jerod Prettyman and wife, Maddie of Great Falls, MT, Alyssa Munchinsky and husband, Jefferson of Watsonville, CA, Olivia Prettyman of Nacogdoches, Angela Prettyman of Nacogdoches and Autumn Prettyman of Nacogdoches; granddaughter, Shire; parents, Richard and Beverly Prettyman of Bellevue, NE; brothers, Richard Prettyman and wife, Julie of Lone Oak, TX, Philip Prettyman and wife, Christine of Uganda and Joshua Prettyman and wife, Brandi of Bellevue, NE; sisters Rebekah Thieme and husband, Rich of Chillicothe, MO, Catherine Prettyman of Omaha, NE and Bethany Cadwallader and husband, Ryan of Battle Creek, NE. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his in-laws, Donald and Gayla Becker of Republic, MO.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jerod Prettyman, Jefferson Munchinsky, Phil Prettyman, Joshua Prettyman, Logan Prettyman, Chad Springer, Michael Eastman, Daren Thompson,KalevBetancourt and Clayton Mankin..
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