Debbie Pretzer

Deborah Pretzer, 62, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family.

She was born May 31, 1963, in Denver, Colorado, to Eugene Dale Peters and Sarah Jane Reneau Peters. She grew up in Denver, Colorado. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University, and later earned her master’s degree in Computer Science summa cum laude from Regis University.

Debbie spent her life with Douglas Pretzer, her husband of 31 years, who was at her side until the end. Together they raised 3 daughters – Carly, Anna, and Linnea.

Debbie was an incredibly bright, independent, and strong woman. She was a lifelong learner, and especially loved learning new vocabulary words. She had a delightfully silly and fun sense of humor, and an infectious laugh. She was an extraordinarily devoted and loving mother and often stated that being a mom was her life’s purpose. She was a faithful follower of Christ and applied her impressive diligence and intellectual curiosity to regular Bible study. She was a woman of action, always willing to help and find solutions to any problem anyone brought to her. She also loved tending to her garden, planning and organizing, DIY home projects, and other creative outlets.

Debbie received a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia – a rare form of early-onset dementia – at the age of 56. She battled the disease for six years, and remained remarkably strong and agile for the vast majority of that time. The disease sadly took her speech about two years before her passing, but she communicated her love through hugs, head bumps, and the occasional smile and giggle.

She was extremely blessed to have a dedicated caretaker in her husband, Doug. He selflessly took on the role without hesitation and ensured her wellbeing, peace, and comfort throughout the progression of her disease.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Douglas Pretzer (63) of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Carly Kelley (38), son-in-law, Gabriel Nuno, and her two grandchildren, Esther and Luca Nuno of Hayden, CO, daughters, Anna (29), and Linnea (26) Pretzer of Denver, CO; and her two brothers, Daniel and David Peters of Denver, CO.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jane and Eugene Peters.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-4 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2026, The Brickyard Event Center, 1025 South Ammon Road.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that donations are made to Hospice of Eastern Idaho–the non-profit that provided excellent in-home care to Debbie.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.