Dengler, Joseph Charles

Joseph Charles Dengler. A forceful personality in the civic, fraternal and club life of Butler is Joseph Charles Dengler, who was born on May 2, 1887, at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, a son of John A. and Laura (Wilson) Dengler.

John A. Dengler was born near Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to the United States at the age of twenty years, settling at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where he had a contract with the National Tube Company for bundling tubes. At the expiration of this contract in 1897, Mr. Dengler removed to Center Township, Butler County, and engaged in farming. In 1911 he went to California, and after a year's residence there, returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred March 4, 1920. He is buried in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. His wife, Laura Wilson Dengler, was a native of Butler County and now resides with her son, Joseph Charles, the only child of their union, and the subject of this sketch. John A. Dengler was a Republican, a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum, and Order of Forresters.

Joseph Charles Dengler attended the public schools of McKeesport and then entered the Pennsylvania College of Embalming, from which he graduated with the class of 1906. Following this theoretical preparation, his practical knowledge was acquired during seven years spent with Phillip Volk, funeral director of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Butler was the city chosen to begin his independent career, and in 1911, in partnership with George W. Amy, under the name of Amy & Dengler, he opened mortuary parlors in that locality. In 1914 Mr. Dengler took over the entire business and modernized it in every respect, introducing the motor driven ambulance into Butler County and also pioneering with Dengler's Funeral Home at 137 West Jefferson Street, which combines under one roof necessary facilities for equipment, operating room, display rooms, chapel, and accommodations for visitors and mourners. Mr. Dengler has the distinction of being the National Selected Mortician in Butler, by invitation.

In politics Mr. Dengler gives his support to the Republican party, under which he has served as coroner of Butler County since 1915, succeeding the late M. A. Berkimer. To this office he has been elected three times. Mr. Dengler is past president of the Western Pennsylvania Funeral Directors' Association; third vice president and member of the Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors' Association; a director of the Guaranty Trust Company, the Community Savings & Loan Association, the Citizens Building & Loan Association, and a member of the Butler Board of Commerce. During the war he worked for the success of the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives in his locality, giving his strength and time unreservedly to the service of his country. Fraternally, Mr. Dengler is widely connected, being affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Loyal Order of Moose, Kiwanis Club, of which he is the district trustee; Sterling Club, Butler Country Club, and the Keystone Athletic Club of Pittsburgh. He is also actively connected with the Young Men's Christian Association; Butler Lodge No. 272, Free and Accepted Masons ; Butler Chapter No. 273, Royal Arch Masons; Lorraine Commandery No. 87, Knights Templar; Syria Caravan No. 14, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and past worthy patron, Order of the Eastern Star, No. 45, all of Butler, Pennsylvania; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Consistory, Valley of New Castle, thirty-second degree; and a member of the Arab Patrol of Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1920 Mr. Dengler was married to Miss Gertrude Vance, daughter of James B. and Martha Jane (Allen) Vance. Mr. Vance was born at West Sunbury, Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1855, and died at his home in Butler, Pennsylvania, on January 16, 1927. His father was David Vance, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and came to Butler at an early date, his trade being that of tailor. James B. Vance attended school until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to work in the oil fields, assisting in drilling the first oil wells in the Foxburg oil district. He was actively connected with this business in Pennsylvania and New York State, and was one of the most experienced men in his line in Butler County. Mr. Vance was also extensively engaged in the erection and sale of dwelling houses in the northern part of Butler. In 1877 he married Martha Jane Allen, to which union three children were born: Nina, married John J. Martin; Clarence Bert Vance; and Gertrude Vance Dengler. Mrs. Vance continues to reside in Butler.