Herbert Lee DePrenger

Herbert Lee DePrenger, 86, passed away on February 19, 2014. Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Family will greet friends from 10 - 11 AM, as well as following the service. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM.

Herb was born on March 31, 1927 in Leighton, Iowa, to William and Gertrude DePrenger, the fourth of five children. He graduated from Pella High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946. He received a BA degree in Mathematics and Education in 1949 and an MS degree in Actuarial Science in 1952 from the State University of Iowa. He worked 23 years at Continental Assurance Company (part of CNA) in Chicago, IL, beginning as an actuary trainee and advancing to become Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. In 1975, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of Reserve Life Insurance in Dallas, Texas, advancing to Group Vice President for Insurance, responsible for 8 life insurance companies within Sammons Enterprises. During his career, he was also active in the Society of Actuaries, American Academy of Actuaries, ACLI, Illinois Life Insurance Council, and the Insurance Medical Scholarship Fund, where he served in various capacities from committees to Officers to the Boards of Directors. In 1981, he joined GEICO in Washington, DC, where he was responsible for starting a new life insurance company. He retired in 1989, leaving a successful company with over 40 employees. In 1990, he moved to West Des Moines, IA. Herb enjoyed woodworking, bridge, tennis, golf, and gardening.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanne DePrenger; sons, Doug (Dona) DePrenger and Vince (Kathy) DePrenger; daughter Kim DePrenger; granddaughters Michelle (Brian) Meehan and Ariella DePrenger-Gottfried; and grandsons Michael DePrenger and Gavriel DePrenger-Gottfried.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Red Cross of Greater Iowa, 2116 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312, (515) 243 – 7681, http://www.redcross.org/ia/des-moines. Online condolence may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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