Obituary: Joseph S. Otreba

Originally Published: June 18, 2008 10:17 p.m.

Joseph S. Otreba passed away at Yavapai Regional Medical Center on May 12, 2008. Joe was born in Baltimore, Md., to Joseph and Margaret (Kaufmann) Otreba on Feb. 1, 1923.

At age 17 Joe joined the CCCs. At age 18 he was a Merchant Seaman on the Esso Oil tanker, I.C. White, that was sunk 450 miles off Brazil by a German U-boat, and he spent seven days on a lifeboat before being rescued.

After the United States entered the war, Joe enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 15, 1941, and was assigned to duty in the Submarine Service. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific. After six years of active duty he finished school and settled on Staten Island, N.Y., and married Kathryn in Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church on June 20, 1948.

Joe was employed by Procter and Gamble as a stationary engineer for 37 1/2 years. After retirement, Joe and Kathryn moved to Prescott in 1989.

Joe was preceded by infants Mary Constance and Ronald; his parents; and brother Jacob. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathryn; sons Lawrence Joseph (Luiza), Michael Damian and Stephen Edward; and grandson Stephen Edward Jr.

Joe was a member of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Submarine Veterans WWII, Submarine Vets Inc., VFW and Prescott Sportsmen's Club and NRA.

Inurnment and memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the Prescott VA National Cemetery.

Heritage Memory Mortuary assisted with the arrangements.

Information provided by survivors.