Vincent Joseph Protsch, 95, of Howard, died Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Good Samaritan Society in Howard.
Funeral services were Monday, March 20, at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Howard with burial in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, also in Howard. Visitation was Sunday, March 19, from noon to 5 p.m. at Willoughby Funeral Home in Howard, with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the church.
Vincent was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Jan. 1, 1922, to George R. and Magdalena (LaFave) Protsch. He was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Saint Boniface Catholic Grade School and Trinity Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa. He then attended Trinity College before transferring to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he majored in chemistry.
During World War II, Vince served in the European Theater and was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the Overseas Bar Victory Ribbon, and two Bronze Stars. As a member of the Medical Corps, he was with the American troops when they liberated the Buchenwald German Nazi Concentration Camp in April of 1945. Vince was honorably discharged from the United States Army and attended the University of South Dakota Law School, graduating with highest honors in 1948.
On Aug. 23, 1950, Vince married Mary Gadbois at the Catholic church in Artesian. He became a partner of the law firm of Mumford & Protsch in Howard and practiced law into his 90s. He was a member of St. Agatha Catholic Church in Howard.
Vince was State’s Attorney for Miner County and was Howard City Attorney for over 30 years. He served as Corporate Counsel for East River Electric Power Cooperative in Madison and received their Eminent Service Award in 1990. He was a member of the South Dakota Board of Regents and served as president. During his tenure on that board, he was instrumental in the development of Dakota State University’s transition to a computer technology center of excellence, and received the Dakota State Alumni Association Award for recognition of outstanding service to South Dakota Higher Education. Vince was a member of the State Bar Association for 69 years. He was licensed to practice in front of the Supreme Court of the State of South Dakota, United States Court of Appeals, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States.
Vince was a member of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, the American Legion, VFW, Sigma Alpha Epsilom and Delta Theta Phi.
Survivors include his sons, Eliot (Barb) Protsch of Naples, Fla., and Gregory (Chrysti) Protsch of Howard; his daughters, Paula (Darwin) Lynde of Middleton, Wis., and Michelle (Glenn) Hofer of Madison, Wis.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; parents, George and Magdalena; and brothers, George and Chester.