Of Czechoslovakian descent, Joseph "Joe" Aloysius Prchal (most commonly pronounced "per' - hall") was born to Joseph A. Sr. and Louise Richards Prchal in Choptank, Maryland. He grew up on a farm in southeastern Maryland, from where he got his unique accent (charmingly pronouncing his later home city as "Balmer"). He was the beloved husband of Lucy for over 40 years since 1952. Fondly referred to as "Uncle Joe" by family, friends, almost everyone who knew him, he'd patriotically and faithfully served in the United States Army overseas during WWII, then worked as a plumber at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital from which position he eventually retired.
He and his wife had no children of their own, but he loved children and often played Santa Claus for the neighbors as well as their many nephews and nieces. His hobbies included woodworking, home maintainance/improvement, fishing, traveling, gardening, 'playing 'possum' while watching TV from his favorite spot on the living room floor and -- last but not least -- cooking. The old saying that "the best chefs in the world are men" likely originated with him; and his wife didn't mind it a bit! :-P Everyone especially loved his two favorite foods: spaghetti and chili (mmmmmm!); and he always made sure that no one had any belly room left over at the dinner table.
For anyone who knew him any length of time, some of his most distinguishing traits were his deep bass voice; a persistent difficulty relating a joke or humorous anecdote without obscuring the punchline with his own laughter, thereby confusing and frustrating his brother-in-law James to no end (which made the tale in question all the more amusing!); and being easily irked by distracted, careless or inconsiderate fellow drivers on the road (whether they could hear him or not). At such times, his wife Lucy would often gently rebuke his somewhat colorful choice of language with a, "Now, hon...", especially when there were youngsters riding along with them.
The way his family lost him was a bit unexpected. In the spring of 1995 he was admitted to the hospital for a scheduled knee operation -- something normally fairly straightforward and routine. But he was a longtime Type I diabetic from a young age, which combined with his advancing years brought on complications and somehow he slipped into a coma, from which sadly he never emerged.
A lifetime member of the VFW, he and his wife had both been active members of the Parkville chapter of AARP and during their latter years following their retirement they took time out to go on bus trips sightseeing at various locations cross-country. They are both dearly loved and missed by all.
He and his wife had no children of their own, but he loved children and often played Santa Claus for the neighbors as well as their many nephews and nieces. His hobbies included woodworking, home maintainance/improvement, fishing, traveling, gardening, 'playing 'possum' while watching TV from his favorite spot on the living room floor and -- last but not least -- cooking. The old saying that "the best chefs in the world are men" likely originated with him; and his wife didn't mind it a bit! :-P Everyone especially loved his two favorite foods: spaghetti and chili (mmmmmm!); and he always made sure that no one had any belly room left over at the dinner table.
For anyone who knew him any length of time, some of his most distinguishing traits were his deep bass voice; a persistent difficulty relating a joke or humorous anecdote without obscuring the punchline with his own laughter, thereby confusing and frustrating his brother-in-law James to no end (which made the tale in question all the more amusing!); and being easily irked by distracted, careless or inconsiderate fellow drivers on the road (whether they could hear him or not). At such times, his wife Lucy would often gently rebuke his somewhat colorful choice of language with a, "Now, hon...", especially when there were youngsters riding along with them.
The way his family lost him was a bit unexpected. In the spring of 1995 he was admitted to the hospital for a scheduled knee operation -- something normally fairly straightforward and routine. But he was a longtime Type I diabetic from a young age, which combined with his advancing years brought on complications and somehow he slipped into a coma, from which sadly he never emerged.
A lifetime member of the VFW, he and his wife had both been active members of the Parkville chapter of AARP and during their latter years following their retirement they took time out to go on bus trips sightseeing at various locations cross-country. They are both dearly loved and missed by all.
Of Czechoslovakian descent, Joseph "Joe" Aloysius Prchal (most commonly pronounced "per' - hall") was born to Joseph A. Sr. and Louise Richards Prchal in Choptank, Maryland. He grew up on a farm in southeastern Maryland, from where he got his unique accent (charmingly pronouncing his later home city as "Balmer"). He was the beloved husband of Lucy for over 40 years since 1952. Fondly referred to as "Uncle Joe" by family, friends, almost everyone who knew him, he'd patriotically and faithfully served in the United States Army overseas during WWII, then worked as a plumber at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital from which position he eventually retired.
He and his wife had no children of their own, but he loved children and often played Santa Claus for the neighbors as well as their many nephews and nieces. His hobbies included woodworking, home maintainance/improvement, fishing, traveling, gardening, 'playing 'possum' while watching TV from his favorite spot on the living room floor and -- last but not least -- cooking. The old saying that "the best chefs in the world are men" likely originated with him; and his wife didn't mind it a bit! :-P Everyone especially loved his two favorite foods: spaghetti and chili (mmmmmm!); and he always made sure that no one had any belly room left over at the dinner table.
For anyone who knew him any length of time, some of his most distinguishing traits were his deep bass voice; a persistent difficulty relating a joke or humorous anecdote without obscuring the punchline with his own laughter, thereby confusing and frustrating his brother-in-law James to no end (which made the tale in question all the more amusing!); and being easily irked by distracted, careless or inconsiderate fellow drivers on the road (whether they could hear him or not). At such times, his wife Lucy would often gently rebuke his somewhat colorful choice of language with a, "Now, hon...", especially when there were youngsters riding along with them.
The way his family lost him was a bit unexpected. In the spring of 1995 he was admitted to the hospital for a scheduled knee operation -- something normally fairly straightforward and routine. But he was a longtime Type I diabetic from a young age, which combined with his advancing years brought on complications and somehow he slipped into a coma, from which sadly he never emerged.
A lifetime member of the VFW, he and his wife had both been active members of the Parkville chapter of AARP and during their latter years following their retirement they took time out to go on bus trips sightseeing at various locations cross-country. They are both dearly loved and missed by all.
He and his wife had no children of their own, but he loved children and often played Santa Claus for the neighbors as well as their many nephews and nieces. His hobbies included woodworking, home maintainance/improvement, fishing, traveling, gardening, 'playing 'possum' while watching TV from his favorite spot on the living room floor and -- last but not least -- cooking. The old saying that "the best chefs in the world are men" likely originated with him; and his wife didn't mind it a bit! :-P Everyone especially loved his two favorite foods: spaghetti and chili (mmmmmm!); and he always made sure that no one had any belly room left over at the dinner table.
For anyone who knew him any length of time, some of his most distinguishing traits were his deep bass voice; a persistent difficulty relating a joke or humorous anecdote without obscuring the punchline with his own laughter, thereby confusing and frustrating his brother-in-law James to no end (which made the tale in question all the more amusing!); and being easily irked by distracted, careless or inconsiderate fellow drivers on the road (whether they could hear him or not). At such times, his wife Lucy would often gently rebuke his somewhat colorful choice of language with a, "Now, hon...", especially when there were youngsters riding along with them.
The way his family lost him was a bit unexpected. In the spring of 1995 he was admitted to the hospital for a scheduled knee operation -- something normally fairly straightforward and routine. But he was a longtime Type I diabetic from a young age, which combined with his advancing years brought on complications and somehow he slipped into a coma, from which sadly he never emerged.
A lifetime member of the VFW, he and his wife had both been active members of the Parkville chapter of AARP and during their latter years following their retirement they took time out to go on bus trips sightseeing at various locations cross-country. They are both dearly loved and missed by all.
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