Wesley ("Wes") Ray Prescher, 83, of Elgin, passed away early Thursday morning, December 30, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, Methodist Campus.  He was born April 13, 1938, in Wabasha to Albert and Mary (Tittrington) Prescher.  He graduated from Elgin High School in 1956.  He then married the love of his life, Marian Culbertson, on June 18, 1960 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Potsdam.

Wes' love for music prompted him to start a band with friends and classmates.  Wes was the founder and part-owner of the Jolly Bohemians Dance Band in 1956 and continued with the band for 21 years.

Professionally, Wes worked for Prescher's Super Service gas station in Elgin from 1956-1977 (becoming part-owner in 1962), a salesman for 4 Seasons Service from 1977-1988, and the Health & Safety Coordinator for the Southeast Minnesota Educational Cooperative Service Union from 1988-1997 when he retired.

During his years, Wes was very active in community leadership roles.  He joined the Elgin Fire Department in 1960 until retiring in 1988.  He served as the Department's secretary for 14 years.  He also co-founded the Elgin Ambulance Service in 1963 and served in various positions (including Director) until 1988.  He also served as the Civil Defense Director and later Emergency Services Director for the City of Elgin from about 1970 through 1993.  From the early 1970's through the early 1990's he taught First Aid for the American Red Cross, was an Emergency Medical Technician instructor for the Minnesota Department of Health, 1982-1983 as a member of the Goodhue/Wabasha County Emergency Health Care Advisory Board, and at various times as an instructor for Skywarn (severe weather spotting) for the Minnesota Department of Emergency Management (and later the National Weather Service).

Wes was elected to the Elgin City Council in 1986, then Mayor in 1991 serving one term.  He was elected to the Council again in 1998 serving until 2007.  He was a life-long member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin.

Wes is survived by his wife Marian; two sons—Jeffrey (LeAnn) Prescher of Fort Myers, FL and Robert (Amber) Prescher of Lake Crystal, MN; eight grandchildren—Paul, Stephanie, Andrew, John, Isabel, Ian, Leah, and Reagan; and one great-grandchild—Eli.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister and brother-in-law—Marylyn and Maurice ("Bud") Fricke.

Visitation will be at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin from 9:00-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022.  Visitation will be followed by the funeral from 11:00-12:00, and then lunch will follow.  Pastor Terrill Bramstedt will be officiating.

Memorials are preferred to: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church; Elgin Ambulance Service; or Elgin Fire Department.