Robert Wesley Prater

Robert Wesley Prater
1930 - 2020

Palm Desert Robert Wesley Prater of Palm Desert, CA passed away peacefully on Sunday March 15, 2020 at the age of 89.
Bob was preceded in death by his brother Ralph Jr. who passed in 1940? and his wife of 52 years Carole Ann (Millerburg). Bob is survived by his daughter Pam (Prater-Howell) Travaglio (Tom), his son R. Scott Prater (Vicky), granddaughter Samantha (Howell) Holland (Nick), grandson Jason Howell (Lisa), granddaughters, Alexa Prater and Kristen Prater and great grandchildren, Grace and Lily Holland and Wesley Howell.
He was born in Oak Park, IL and was the son of Ralph Prater and Alberta (McPhail). He spent his early years in Hinsdale, IL until 1941 when his parents moved to North Hollywood, CA. While there, he attended Harvard Military School and after graduating attended Claremont Men's College in Claremont, CA. where he graduated in 1953 with a B.A. degree. After graduating, he became a member of the U.S. Army stationed in Ft. Ord, CA for two years. In 1954, Bob married the love of his life, Carole Ann Millerburg.
After the military, Bob and Carole moved to Western Springs, Illinois so that Bob could start a full-time job at Prater Pulverizer Company (Cicero, IL) a company his father Ralph started back in 1925. He was employed there for over 50 years where he served as President, and then Chairman of the Board. Over the years Prater changed it's name to Prater Industries and then after the acquisition of Sterling Controls in 1987, it became known as Prater/Sterling. Prater designed, manufactured and sold particle reduction, sizing and metering equipment and systems to the feed, food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Sterling Controls who supplied electrical process controls and automation products for the equipment and systems Prater sold.
During Bob's time in Illinois, he was a member of several organizations including the President of the Ridgewood Homeowners Association, President of the Cicero Manufacturing Association, Board of Directors for the Boys Club of Cicero, IL and President of the Ironwood 8 Homeowners Association for 10 years.
Bob loved golf and fishing and in the earlier years spent summer vacations in the northern Midwest, fishing with their best friends, Bob and Marge Clewlow. Bob became a member of Ruth Lake CC in Hinsdale and later Big Foot CC in Fontana, WI. In 1966 Bob and Carole built a small A-frame in Fontana, WI, known as "Raking Acres" due the fact it was on 7 acres of land that had many mature trees. Lake life suited the family and in 1980 they moved their summer residence across Geneva Lake to the Geneva Manor neighborhood in the city of Lake Geneva. In 1980, after deciding winters were brutal in Illinois and Wisconsin, they purchased another home in Palm Desert, CA in Ironwood CC. At that time, they became members of Ironwood CC and remained members for over 32 years. In 1998, Bob and Carole sold their two homes in Lake Geneva and they became winter residents in Palm Desert and summer in Burr Ridge.
Bob's wife passed in 2006, and he eventually moved into to the home in Palm Desert, CA full time after selling the Burr Ridge home in 2008. In 2014 he moved into assisted living where he spent the last days of his life. Bob was a devoted husband, excellent father, grandfather and was very well liked and respected both personally and professionally. Due to the current situation around the world the family has decided to hold off on any funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association.