ROCK ISLAND - James D. Prather, 74, of Rock Island, died Saturday, May 27, 2017 at UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Rock Island, IL, from lung cancer and pneumonia infection. Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday at Two Rivers Church, 1820 Fifth Avenue, Rock Island. Burial is at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by Vietnam Veterans of America 299 and the U.S. Navy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dillion International, 73 South Lewis Avenue, Suite 302, Tulsa, OK 74136, Two Rivers Church, 1820 Fifth Avenue, Rock Island, IL, or a charity of your choice. Jim was born to James D. and Virginia Mae Prather in Centerville, IA, on September 8, 1942. He was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout Award and later set pins at the Bowladrome Lanes in Rock Island. After graduation from Rock Island High School in 1960, he joined the Navy and served on the Valley Forge during the Vietnam War. He worked for the next 35 years at IBM, owned his own electronic store (Audio Phonics), and then worked for the Department of Defense as a Contract Specialist. Along the way he met and married Cheryl (Sherry) Adams of Polo, IL, on April 28, 1973. Together they raised two daughters adopted from South Korea. He became very involved in Rotary International and was an active member of the Quad Cities Illinois Rotary Club. After retiring from the Arsenal, he became the District 6420 Governor for 2008-09 under Rotary International President D. K. Lee from South Korea, and then spent the following year as a civilian contracting officer for the D of D in Iraq. Jim was a member of Two Rivers Church serving in many capacities and developed a passion for spreading God's word and helping others. He became a Certified Lay Minister and was appointed Director of Senior Adult Ministries for the Church. He later became a Befriender at Trinity, participated in their Parish Nurse programs, and furthered his passion by graduating from the Chaplain program at Trinity on April 10, 2017, but God called him Home before he could pursue this dream. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife, children, Christa (Brian) Lutz, Gilbert, AZ, and Jara (Richard) Chen of Cheshire, CT; sister, Barbara Prather, Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren, Makenzie and Brileigh Lutz; brother-in-law, David (Renee) Adams, Washington, IL; nieces, Tara Adams, Chicago, IL, and Debbie (Chad) Paulsen, Davenport, IA; nephews, Troy Adams, Chicago, IL and Joseph Cox, Des Moines, IA; great-niece, Taylor Ward, and many cousins. Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.