Herbert Lee DePrenger
February 19, 2014
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.
Conrad Siegel FSA
06/18/2014
I dealt with Herb in a pension matter about 50+ years ago when he was with Continental Assurance. He was a pleasure to deal with. I was then a consulting actuary working for a CNA agency.
Janet Metcalf
02/25/2014
I enjoyed my years playing tennis with Herb. He was great fun to play with, and had a wicked forehand. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a very nice man and my sympathies to his family.
Janet Metcalf
Rachael Duff
02/23/2014
Thoughts and Prayers to Jeanne and family. I loved talking and visiting with Herb on the weekends when he would come in for breakfast and lunch. He always stopped and said hi to me at the desk at Edgewater. He was a wonderful and witty man. He will be missed for sure.
Rachael Duff, Concierge at Edgewater
Kathy Swanson
02/23/2014
thoughts and prayers go out to Mr DePrenger,s family he will be deeply missed I will miss his smiling face in the morning and waiting on him heres to u Mr DePrenger I raise my glass of Pinot to u today hope they never run out in heaven !
Nancy Van Roekel
02/21/2014
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers with the death of our cousin Herb. I have fond memories going to Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Bill's for family gatherings. Francine and I had a wonderful lunch with Herb in Des Moines and a great visit.
Herb was very talented with wood workings, which he learned from his father. May your happy family memories with your husband and father be a comfort to you.
Pat and Ed Palmer
02/21/2014
How we will miss our dear former West Des Moines neighbor who had a wonderful well of information he willingly shared with all. Herb could build anything and fix anything. He helped our daughter Brooke build an Invention Convention project to keep our recycling bin from blowing away. His outdoor ping pong table was the hit of the neighborhood. He even entertained us all with his love of fireworks on the 4th of July! His ready laugh and his love of life will be fondly remembered.
Willis & June Van Haaften
02/20/2014
We are sending loving thoughts your way. Herb was my first cousin. I (June) smile as I remember when we were kids and enjoyed good times at Grandpa De Prenger and Aunt Beulah's home at the bottom of the big hill near Leighton. We were always served delicious coffee times. Time endears and cannot fade the precious memories love has made. Sincerely, June & Willis Van Haaften