09/23/2025
IN LOVING MEMORY
John Harrison Presler II passed away peacefully at the age of 79 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center, Paducah KY on September 21, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Born on December 18, 1945, in Princeton, KY, John proudly served in the United States Army and was a combat veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. After graduating from Western Kentucky University as a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, John began what would be a forty-year career as an accountant with the firm of Thurman Campbell Group PLC. In 2011, the firm dedicated its local office building on Main Street in Princeton to honor him for his years of exceptional leadership. John was the firm's ambassador in Princeton and expanded the presence of Thurman Campbell Group PLC to serve clients in Caldwell and surrounding counties.
John was a community builder. He joined the Princeton Kiwanis Club in 1974 and was a member for 51 years, where he held various offices, serving longest as treasurer. In 1990, he was named a distinguished Lt. Governor of the Kiwanis KY-TN District and held the distinction of being a George F. Hixson Fellow in Kiwanis International. His leadership skills were also assets to The United Givers Fund, The United Way, and The Princeton Water Department serving as board chairman for all three organizations. John was also a member of the Princeton Elks Lodge, where he held many offices, including two terms as Exalted Ruler. John was an instructor for the Hunters Education Program and a willing volunteer for many local boards, committees, and community events. He was a member of the Ogden United Methodist Church.
John enjoyed playing golf with his wife and friends. His greatest, life-long pleasure came from hunting quail and training bird dogs. John's numerous hunting trips took him to Texas, Kansas, and Iowa, and provided many favorite memories that he loved to share with family and friends. John was a devoted member of the alumni of the Caldwell County High School Class of 1964. He checked on classmates, looked forward to monthly gatherings, helped plan class reunions, and served as treasurer of the class funds. One of his greatest joys was creating and maintaining his beautiful yard at the family's home on Hillcrest Drive. John tended to his collection of heirloom iris and hyacinth bulbs from his grandparents' farm and peony bushes from his parents' home. Deep roots and connections to Princeton and Caldwell County provided the foundation for his pride in his home and community.
John's love and devotion for his wife, children, and grandchildren will be lasting blessings that he left to his family. His support of his children and grandchildren was steadfast. He instilled in them the quality of being self-reliant, problem solvers. Through his final years when travel was impossible, John made frequent phone calls to his family and friends to remain an active part of their lives. John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Martha Cash Presler; two daughters, Emory Spradlin (Dave) of Saint Augustine, Florida, and Paige Presler-Jur (Jess Jur) of Raleigh, North Carolina; two grandchildren, John David Spradlin and Addison Lee Spradlin; brother, Paul Edward Presler (Betty) of Lexington, Kentucky, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents John Harrison "Bill" Presler and Dorothy Ann O'Hara Presler, brother, Thomas O'Hara Presler, and his grandparents, Earnest Warner and Marion Carloss O'Hara, and Ivan and Edna Little Presler.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the three organizations most meaningful to John: the Princeton Kiwanis Club Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 752, Princeton, Kentucky 42445; the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Visitation will be on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Morgan's Funeral Home. The funeral services will be on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Ogden United Methodist Church at 1:00 pm. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Princeton, Kentucky. A celebration of John’s life follows at the Princeton Golf Club, all are invited to attend.
