John Edward Prizina, Jr.

John Edward Prizina, Jr., age 80, passed away on February 8, 2024 at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Tipton.  Mr. Prizina was a 20-year veteran of the United States Navy. The epitome of loyalty and faithfulness, he served God, his country, and his family with pride and fervor.  Patriotic from birth, he was born on July 4, 1943 in Denver, Colorado to the late John and Jessie B. Woolridge Prizina, Sr., and was one of four children.  Mr. Prizina was an electronics technician, self-taught and self-reliant, and it served him well during his military career as well as during the time he worked at Emerson Electric in Missouri, at State Tech when it was on the base in Millington as a radar instructor, and for 15 years at the VA Medical Center.  John Jr. was a military history buff as well, and he loved sharing that passion, helping to educate others.  A member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, he had a servant’s heart, willingly and humbly volunteering his time and skills as member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. John was very family-oriented, was married to Mrs. Elaina for 56 ½ years, and had three daughters, and one son.  He was a husband, father, caretaker, jokester with a great sense of humor, family organizer, time keeper, and family photographer.  You could see just how much he loved each and every one of them by the photos he took, his viewfinder always focusing on his wife and children.

He is survived by his wife, Elaina Crouse Prizina; four children, Melody Clements (Douglas), James Prizina (Ana), Julie Prizina (Jason Breashears), and Angie Adams; three sisters, Anna Kay (Jerry), Brooka Hamilton (Charlie), and Trudy Sutton (DeWayne); three grandchildren, Daniella Espinosa, James Prizina, Jr., and Sophia Prizina, and one great-grandchild, Sebastian. 

Visitation for Mr. John Prizina, Jr. will be held on Thursday, February 15th at St. Alphonsus Church in Covington from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with the Rosary service to begin at 6:30 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 16th at St. Alphonsus Church, with interment to follow in Magnolia Gardens Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest with full military honors.