Thomas “T.J.” Pratt, 62, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, May 5, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Per T.J.’s wishes, there will be no funeral service or family visitation. A private family burial will be held. Friends may call to sign the register book from 12 Noon to 7 PM on Friday, May 12 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street. Pleasant. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Thomas Jeffrey “T.J.” Pratt was born September 5, 1960 in Roswell, New Mexico. He was the son of Dr. Carl William and Geraldine May (Pelisek) Pratt. He grew up in the Southwest United States until his family moved to Clarinda, Iowa and later to Tama/Toledo, Iowa.
T.J. entered the United States Marines following his completion of high school. He was inducted on May 25, 1978 in Sioux Falls, SD. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal, last serving with the 4th Battalion of the 1st Marine Division of 29 Palms, CA. He was honorably discharged on August 31, 1982 at 29 Palms.
T.J. then began his collegiate studies at the University of Montana. He graduated in 1993 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Forestry, Organic Wildlife and Transitional Wildlife and minors in Botany and Zoology.
Nearly all of T.J.’s working career was with the Department of Corrections for the State of Iowa. He served 27 years as a Storekeeper II at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Institution. He retired in January of 2023.
Survivors include a brother, Phillip Pratt of Astoria, NY and a sister, Ann Pratt of Marshalltown, IA as well as friends in the Mt. Pleasant area who made up his “adopted family”.
His parents precede him in death.