Margaret Pruter Obituary

Pruter, Margaret Franson

Margaret Franson Pruter, age 87, passed away on January 6, 2026 after a prolonged illness. She died peacefully in her home in Elmhurst, Illinois. She was born on January 16, 1938, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Margaret and Frederick Franson. She grew up in Brookfield, Illinois, and spent her adult life in Elmhurst.

Margaret is survived by her beloved husband, Robert Pruter; her daughter, Robin Franson Pruter; her sister, Judith Paloucek (Dennis) and cherished nephews, Mark, Keith, Kevin, and Dennis II; and cousins, who will remember her with deep affection. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She attended St. Barbara's School in Brookfield and graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High. She earned her AB degree from Rosary College and an MA in history from Northwestern University. Her love of history shaped both her professional career and her lifelong civic involvement.

She worked for 32 years as senior social science editor for the New Standard Encyclopedia and later as a textbook editor for McDougall-Littell, contributing to educational materials used by students across the country. Margaret contributed local history essays to the Encyclopedia of Chicago and DuPage Roots: Then and Now.

Her commitment to local history and public service was deep and sustained. She served as president of the DuPage Historical Society and spent 30 years on the Elmhurst Historical Commission, which later became the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation. Through this work, she helped preserve the stories, records, and institutions that give a community its shared memory and continuity.

A lifelong Democrat, she followed politics avidly, kept a campaign button collection on presidential candidates, and wrote every president's article in her work for the encyclopedia. From going with her dad to the professional girls' softball games as a ten-year-old, she became a lifelong follower of Chicago sports teams, especially the Chicago White Sox (her baseball card collection on the Sox goes back to the 1950s).

Those who knew Margaret will remember her sharp intellect, gentle humor, boundless curiosity, and enduring kindness. As a wife and mother, she was fiercely protective, our closest companion, and we will miss her deeply.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Lee Daniels Pavilion (493 N. Oaklawn) in Berens Park, Elmhurst.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation or the DuPage County Historical Society.

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