Jay Prauner and his wife, Sandy Hansen Prauner, celebrated their 31st marriage anniversary in 2023.
The managing editor at the Norfolk Daily News has sadly passed away from the injuries he sustained from a car accident on January 16, 2025, at 63.
Highlights
- The Norfolk Daily News managing director Jay Prauner has sadly passed away at 63 due to the injuries sustained from a car accident.
- Jay Prauner was married to Sandy Hansen Prauner on April 25, 1992.
- Sandy and Jay had three children: Alex Nicole Kirby, April Danon, and Jayden Prauner.
He was involved in a one-vehicle accident north of Norfolk. First responders transported him to the hospital in Norfolk before airlifting him to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for further care.
The sports information director at Wayne State College, Mike Grosz, poured a small tribute to Jay through his official Facebook handle by writing,
Saddened to hear over the weekend that Jay Prauner from the Norfolk Daily News passed away following injuries from an auto accident one week ago. Jay started in sports at the Daily News shortly after I started doing radio at KTCH (late 1980’s) and then I developed a great working relationship with him as sports editor at NDN and myself as SID at Wayne State. In recent years we would meet shortly after the craziness of the school year and have lunch in Norfolk at either Big Red Keno or Black Cow Fat Pig. We always talked work but in recent years our most enjoyable conversations were about our families, kids and grandchildren. Going to miss our visits either over the phone, through email and definitely in person. More proof how life is so precious and can change in the blink of an eye. Cherish the times that you have and my prayers and thoughts go out to the Prauner family.
Mike Grosz
Norfolk Senior High School graduate Darrin Paul also took to his Facebook and sent prayers for Jay Prauner’s family. He wrote,
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Prauner family. Jay was a good man. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Darrin Paul
He will be remembered for his unforgettable contribution to the Norfolk Daily News as a managing editor.
Prauner started working at the Norfolk Daily News in the sports department in September 1996 and later became sports editor in 1996.
In August 2019, he was promoted to managing director and continued as the sports editor until the summer of 2022.
After passing along sports editor responsibilities, Prauner started helping paginating sports pages, which he considered his favorite part of the job.
Jay Prauner And His Wife, Sandy Hansen Prauner, Spent Married Life For Over Three Decades
The Norfolk Daily News managing director Jay Prauner married Sandy Hansen Prauner on April 25, 1992.
On April 25, 2023, Jay and Sandy celebrated their 31st marriage anniversary and shared some glimpses on Facebook with the caption,
31st Anniversary so I cooked up a little something for the occasion.
Jay Prauner
Sadly, their married life ended after over 33 years following the tragic passing of Jay Prauner.
Many fans and relatives condoled Sandy and the Prauner family for staying strong during this challenging period.
Sandy was born to her father, Dennis Hansen, and her mother, Karen Hansen. She grew up with his brothers, Dean Jay Hansen, Joy Hansen, and Teri Lutz.
Her brother Dean, born August 4, 1961, passed away peacefully at the University of Nebraska Medicine on July 11, 2024, at the age of 62.
Dean married Lori on August 16, 1980, in Yankton, South Dakota. He worked for several years at Hansen Construction with his brother and father.
Managing Editor Jay Prauner And Sandy Prauner Had Three Children
Jay Prauner and Sany Hansen Prauner were blessed with two daughters, Alex Nicole Kirby and April Danon, and one son, Jayden Prauner.
Jayden Prauner married Emily Prauner on October 15, 2016, with whom he shares two children. However, they have managed to keep their kids’ identities private.
Recently, on January 26, 2025, Jayden took to his Facebook handle to announce the tragic passing of his father, Jay. He wrote,
Dad passed away last night with all of us by his side. We are extremely grateful for the love and support from everyone. Funeral details will be announced in the coming days.
Jayden Prauner
Jay’s daughter, Alex Nicole Kirby, is a registered nurse who has been serving at Faith Regional Health Service since November 18, 2019.
She married Zachary David Kirby on April 2, 2016, with whom she shares one daughter, Maxine, and one son, Theodore “Theo” James Kirby.
Jay’s second daughter, April Dannon, lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and studied Cosmetology at Xenon Academy. She has been a Medical Assistant at Aislinn Medical Spa since November 1, 2022.
She is married to Josh Dannon, a Southwest YMCA membership manager, and an Omaha Marine Center sales account manager.
April recently poured a tribute to her father, Jay, through her Facebook handle and wrote,
My light, my everything. Dad, we had such a special bond. I always wished I would have your kind heart and tender soul. You loved gently and quietly. You were humbly, you. You were all things I wish I could be. I am forever broken, but I know you will be with me always. May the legacy of your love for all things sports live on, it was our deepest connection for sure! Rest easy, I love you
April Danon
Additional Information
- Jay Prauner attended Battle Creek High School and later studied at Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Nebraska.
- Prauner had an estimated net worth of around $1 million at the time of his passing.
- Prauner’s family stated that his memorial service would be held on February 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk.
