Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
PREGLER, John T.
PREGLER, John T. (Dubuque, IA-- ). Pregler came from a long-line of Dubuque residents. The son of former mayor Walter A. PREGLER, he counted among his relatives: Robert L. PREGLER, the first Iowan to graduate from the Merchant Marine Academy, and Gerald G. PREGLER, secretary of RIVERSIDE BOWL.
A graduate of STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL, Pregler attended the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration in 2010. In 2017 he was employed locally for Data Transfer Solutions of Orlando, Florida. The company assisted local, county and state public works and engineering departments develop infrastructure plans and long-term maintenance schedules.
In September, 2017 Pregler made his first attempt at public office. He was involved in a three-way primary election to choose a council position from the First Ward. Among his credentials for office, he pointed to his service on the Dubuque Long Range Planning Advisory Commission since 2010 and his term on the city ad-hoc Source of Income Committee in 2015-2016.
A frequent contributor to http://encyclopediadubuque.org, Pregler debuted his own website--https://thelensofhistory.com/. He is also the author of Historic Tales of Old Dubuque.
A popular lecturer on CIVIL WAR history, Pregler was active in the organization of the first known chapter of the SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR in Dubuque and served as the organization's first president. Among the accomplishments in his three years as camp commander were:
•Restored the Civil War memorial marker at the Upper Bay Settlement Cemetery outside Delhi, Iowa
•Participation in annual Decoration Day, Veteran’s Day, 4th of July, and Wreaths Across America celebrations
•Moved the camp from Marion, Iowa, to Dubuque
•Established a camp headquarters/meeting place
•Created a camp logo, shirts, and obtained a camp flag and event banner
•Started a grave marker cleaning program to systematically clean veteran markers in local cemeteries
•Reset 13 grave markers that were at risk of damage
•Obtained and placed four new grave markers on unmarked graves
•Raised money at public events including Civil War re-enactments and history expos
•Conducted several public education events in person and on local radio
•Purchased a marker for Dubuque’s Camp Union (to be placed in Spring 2026)
•Doubled the SUVCW membership
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Source:
1. Barton, Thomas J. "Pregler Says He is 'Uniquely Qualified,' " Telegraph Herald, September 22, 2017, p. 5A