Former Telephone Manager Nicholas Prakken, 76, Dies

Former telephone manager Nicholas Prakken, 76, dies

Nicholas J. Prakken, former manager of the Ann Arbor office of Michigan Bell Telephone Co. who was active in community affairs, died this morning at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. He was 76.

During Prakken’s 36 years with the phone company, he helped oversee some major advances in communications technology. The number of telephones in the area increased nearly tenfold during that time, from 11,003 when Prakken arrived in 1936 to 101,800 when he retired in 1972.

In an Ann Arbor News article about his retirement, Prakken recalled that when he joined Michigan Bell, rural customers in the Ann Arbor area did not have dial service. Calls were completed by dialing 116, which connected the calling party with a position on the operator’s board at the telephone office.

Long active in the community affairs, Prakken was a past president of COPE, the Center for Occupational and Personalized Education. He donated his time to the Washtenaw Council on Ageing, where he helped elderly people file income tax returns. Additionally, he was active in Planned Parenthood’s capital funds campaign.

Prakken also volunteered his time to the United Way and was very active in the Ann Arbor KiwanisClub.

‘‘He took the United Way through some very difficult times and gave great leadership,’’ recalled Robert Kerschbaum, executive director of the Washtenaw County United Way. “What I remember about him most is that he always had a very positive mind about everything.”

A native of Holland, Mich., Prakken was graduated from Michigan State University in 1929 and joined Michigan Bell the same year as a commercial agent in Kalamazoo.

Prakken is survived by his wife, two daughters, one son and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kiwanis Building Fund of Ann Arbor or the First Presbyterian Church Celebration Fund.

Friends may call at Muehlig Chapel from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

NICHOLAS J. PRAKKEN
...active in civic affairs