Luisa C. Prey

Luisa Clementina (Casati) Prey, age 96, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Stoughton, Wisconsin. She was born in Milan, Italy, on June 26, 1927, the daughter of Carlo and Anna (Lemma) Casati. She lived in Milan until she was 20 years old and shared many stories of her family’s experiences during World War II with family and friends. Her most precious memory was the story of meeting the love of her life, the man who would become her husband, Jim Prey. They met at the end of the war at a dance in Milan, where Jim was stationed as an American soldier, and that meeting forged a love that lasted a lifetime. 

Luisa joined Jim in Milwaukee in 1947 at which time they were married at the Grand Avenue Congregational Church. Luisa lived with Jim throughout the Midwest, learned English, graduated from business school and finally settling in Madison, Wisconsin. She worked at the Madison Police Department for over 25 years before retiring from her role as assistant to the Madison Chief of Police. 

Luisa and Jim were married for 63 years and have four children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They loved to travel and made many visits to Europe and Brazil, with frequent visits to her family in Italy. For many years, Jim and Luisa spent winters together in Manasota Key, Florida, and made many dear friends there. Luisa was a strong and courageous woman who was deeply devoted to her family. She was proud of her Italian heritage and remained close to her two sisters, Lidia and Laura, and her younger brother, Umberto, their children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook, baker and seamstress. She knitted, crocheted, quilted and learned to swim and waterski. Luisa will be remembered and missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James Harold Prey, Sr., her mother, Anna Lemma Casati and her sisters, Lidia Guzzi and Laura Colombo. She is survived by her four children, Joan Canto, Jim & Jackie (Selin) Prey, Mark & Denise (Lane) Prey, and Laura Prey & Brad Lovell, four grandchildren, Justin & Jamie (Plzak) Prey, James & Kailani (Novotny) Prey, Lydia Lovell, Bradley Lovell, and three great-grandchildren, Ben, Eva and Ariella Prey.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Cress Funeral Home at 3610 Speedway Road in Madison on August 14, 2024, at 11:00 am. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the “Agrace Foundation” at 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711