Dr. Gustave G. Prinsell

Dr. Gustave G. Prinsell, 100, of 7336 Campus Heights went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in his home. He was born on May 26, 1922 in Jersey City, NJ, a son of the late Gustave J. and Doretta Knoeffler Prinsell. He married Louise Bininger who survives.

Dr. Prinsell was a graduate of Houghton College and afterward earned his MD at Columbia University Medical School, internship and general surgery residency at the University of Michigan’s Saginaw Hospital and a Tropical Medicine Fellowship at the University of London.

He devoted the early part of his career to medical missions that began at the Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa (1957-1964), followed by a short medical terms in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Haiti and again to Sierra Leone in 2001 and 2009.

In 1964, Dr. Prinsell began his private practice of family medicine in Houghton that served Allegany County until his retirement in 1991. He also served as the school physician at both Houghton College and Fillmore Central School. He helped found the Wesleyan Medical Fellowship, was active in the Houghton Wesleyan Church, and continued ministering to students at Houghton College where he received an Honorary Doctorate of Sciences Degree and Alumnus of the Year Award in 2018.

He was a proud veteran, having served four years (1942-1946) in the United States Navy as a minesweeper during WWII and a loyal member of the American Legion. His autobiography, “The Papa Bear”, published in 2017, also tells of his personal experiences, friendships, devout Christian faith and deep love of family.

Surviving in addition to his beloved wife of 75 years are their four sons, Jonathan (Dawn) of Orlando, FL, James (Britta) of Plano, TX, Jeffrey (Kim) of Marietta, GA and Joel (Jill) of Orlando, FL; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Jr (Jenny) and Eric (Whitney) both of Marietta, GA, Michael (Lisa) of Galesburg, IL, Jonathan Jr (Alisha) of Cambridge, ON, Joy (Chandler Brothers), Grace and David all of Orlando, FL; five great-grandchildren, Logan, Landon, Luke, Mary Katherine and Liam all of Marietta, GA; and, several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his siblings, Edna, Helen and William.

Family and friends may gather from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at the Kopler-Williams Funeral Home, 21 N Genesee Street, Fillmore. A Eulogy Service will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Friday, July 22, 2022 at the Houghton Wesleyan Church where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm. Rev. Dr. Wesley Oden will officiate. Burial with Military Honors will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Houghton.

If desired, memorial donations in lieu of flowers to: the “Dr. Gustave and Louise Prinsell Scholarship” at Houghton University, One Willard Avenue, Houghton, NY 14744, 585-567-9400. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Gustave G. Prinsell, please visit our floral store.