Joseph Watson Prenger1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 7352, (1911 - 1985)
FatherJoseph Frank Prenger4,5,6 (28 Aug 1885 - 22 Sep 1943)
MotherJessie Myrtle Watson4,7 (5 Nov 1886 - 27 Oct 1917)

Key Events:

Birth: 22 Jun 1911, Peoria, Illinois8,9,10
Marriage: 1942, Grace Helen Brown (4 Sep 1889 - 27 Sep 1981)11,12,13
Death: 2 Mar 198514,15,16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Joseph Watson Prenger was born on 22 Jun 1911 in Peoria, Illinois.8,9,10
     After the death of their mother in 1917, Joe and his brother moved with their father to the home of their mother's sister and her husband, Min and Edwin Lehmann. They continued to live with the Lehmanns until they were grown.17,18,6
Joseph Prenger
photo from Carmen Reigel papers

     He appeared with his father on the 1920 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of his aunt Min and uncle Edwin.19 He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, with his father, in the household of his uncle and aunt.6
     Joseph attended Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana, for two years, graduating in 1931 in the scientific program. He was on company football, soccer, basketball, baseball, rifle, track, and boxing teams. His yearbook entry said he was to attend Stanford University.20
     Joseph attended the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, where record of his attendance in the 1932-33 and 1934-35 terms has been found.21,22 He attended the College of Law at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, graduating with a bachelor's degree.23,24 He earned a law degree from Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana.25
     Joseph appeared as a lodger on the 1940 Federal Census of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, in the household of Grace Helen Brown, his future wife, and her daughter. He reported he had lived in the same city five years earlier.26
     Joseph registered for the draft for World War II on 16 Oct 1940, while living at 1422 Amelia, New Orleans, Louisiana, reporting he was employed by New Orleans Public Service, in New Orleans.2 He reported in the 1940 census that he was an accountant for a public utility, and had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the previous year, earning $1,600.26
     Joseph married Grace Helen Brown, daughter of Lemuel Reed Brown and Sarah Frances Winston, in 1942. She had previously been married to Ralph R. Wheatley.11,12,13
     Joseph was drafted as a private in the U.S. Army entering the service 19 Jun 1942, in Peoria, Illinois. He rose through the ranks to First Lieutenant by the end of the war. Details of his service have not been found.27,28
     Joseph passed the examination for certified public accountant in Louisiana in Aug 1948.29
     Joseph and Grace appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of New Orleans, Orleans Co., Louisiana, at 819 Lavestin, enumerated 13 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm.30
     He retired from New Orleans Publis Service, Inc., the city's electic and gas utility, in 1977. While there he served as a property accounting clerk, data processing analyst, senior property accountant, and finally manager of the property accounting division.31,25
     His wife died on 27 Sep 1981.4,32
     Joseph died on 2 Mar 1985 at age 73.14,15,16

Children:
     There were no children with Grace Helen Brown

Citations

  1. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows name as Joseph W. (?) Prenger.
  2. [S10246] Joseph Watson Prenger, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Louisiana, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947.
  3. [S3517] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 6 Mar 1985, shows name as Joseph Watson Prenger.
  4. [S3512] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 29 Sep 1981.
  5. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph as brother-in-law to Edwin, and young Joseph as his nephew.
  6. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  7. [S66] Pound, Family File "POUNDA~1.FTW," 31 Jan 1999.
  8. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows age 8 and state.
  9. [S10246] Joseph Watson Prenger, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Louisiana, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947, shows date, as 22nd, city, and state.
  10. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Joseph Prenger, Soc. Sec. No. 433-03-9731, shows date, as 22nd.
  11. [S13007] Joseph W. Brenger household, 1950 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, shows married, with her married more than once and 10 years since she last married, widowed, divorced or separated.
  12. [S66] Pound, Family File "POUNDA~1.FTW," 31 Jan 1999, shows year.
  13. [S3512] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 29 Sep 1981, shows her as his wife.
  14. [S3517] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 6 Mar 1985, shows date.
  15. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Joseph Prenger, Soc. Sec. No. 433-03-9731, shows date.
  16. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Joseph Prenger, Soc. Sec. No. 433-03-9731, shows month, year, and last residence as 70118 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana.
  17. [S24] Interview, Carmen Glabe Reigel, 7 Oct 1998.
  18. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph and his two sons in the household.
  19. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  20. [S10247] The Roll Call, 1931, pg 149.
  21. [S10248] Illio, 1933 pg 316, shows him as a sophomore; 1935 pg 373, shows him as a junior.
  22. [S3511] Grace Wheatley household, 1940 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, shows four years of college.
  23. [S10250] "Katz Is Named to NOPSI Post," Times-Picayune, 5 Jul 1977, shows degree.
  24. [S10249] The Jambalaya, 1936 pg 69, shows him as an undergraduate in College of Law.
  25. [S10250] "Katz Is Named to NOPSI Post," Times-Picayune, 5 Jul 1977.
  26. [S3511] Grace Wheatley household, 1940 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
  27. [S1356] "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," Ancestry.com, record for Joseph W Prenger.
  28. [S10254] "In Tribute to Culver Men in World War II", lists him as 1st Lt. J. W. Prenger.
  29. [S10251] "Accountants Pass Exams," New Orleans States, 23 Aug 1948.
  30. [S13007] Joseph W. Brenger household, 1950 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
  31. [S13007] Joseph W. Brenger household, 1950 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, shows occupation as accountant and industry as public utilities.
  32. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Grace Prenger, Soc. Sec. No. 435-16-1491, shows month, year, and last residence, as 70118, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana.