Rolla L. Pratt, 74, a fix-it man and longtime model-maker for Motorola, died of pancreatic cancer Monday, March 18, in his home in McHenry. While other kids in his hometown of Moline grew up playing outside and riding bikes, Mr. Pratt was the child known for building things. It started with blocks, said his daughter Jane Folz. Over the years, he built toy boats, real boats, guns and dollhouses. After Mr. Pratt married his wife, Eleanor, they moved to McHenry, near the Fox River, to a cottage that he refurbished into a bigger home. In his 40-plus years at Motorola, Mr. Pratt worked on the design of the first cell phones, said his daughter. “They were those big, bulky things,” she said. At home, Mr. Pratt could repair pretty much anything–and often in an extravagant way. His daughter recalled a plastic swimming pool that leaked. “Most people would just patch it up,” she said. Mr. Pratt repaired it with washers, nuts and a silicon-covered bolt. “It was ingenious,” said Folz. “When my dad took on a project, he put his heart and soul into it. It had to be perfect.” Mr. Pratt is also survived by another daughter, Lori; a son, Erik; a brother, Winston; and seven grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday in George R. Justen & Son Funeral Home, 3519 W. Elm St., McHenry. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Zion Lutheran Church, 4206 W. Elm St., McHenry.
