Warren Justus Liesegang (June 17, 1928–January 9, 1998)

By Nolberto Garcia

Early Life

Warren Justus Liesegang was born in Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey on June 17, 1928 to Henry A. and Theresa Liesegang. ¹ He died on January 9, 1998 in Fort Pierce, Florida. Liesegang served as a member of the US Navy during the Korean War and later was a merchant seaman.²

Liesegang was born and raised in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, growing up as a Christian.³ According to the 1930 Census, seen here on line 50, his father worked as a clerk and his mother was unemployed.⁴ When Warren Liesegang was nine years old, the United States entered the Recession of 1937-1938, which occurred amid the Great Depression. During this time, industrial production dropped 30 percent, halting economic recovery and bringing hardships to families all across the country.⁵ During these years, Warren Liesegang’s parents filed for a divorce. With his father being the only source of income for the family during these trying years, it could be possible that economic strains played a role in his parent’s divorce.⁶

By 1940, Warren Liesegang had moved with his mother, who had remarried William Staubach, a proprietor (owner of property or business) earning around $5,000 a year in wages. Additionally, according to the 1940 Census, Warren Liesegang was officially recorded as the stepson to William Staubach.⁷

At the age of seventeen, Warren may have been in a much better economic situation than he had been previously. Lasting from the end of WWII until the early 1970s, the Golden Age of Capitalism saw sustained economic growth and prosperity, allowing sixty percent of Americans to attain a “middle-class lifestyle.” It is probable that his stepfather, William Staubach, had a good career as a proprietor and was able to economically provide for the family. In 1945, Warren Liesegang changed his last name to Staubach, but then changed it back to Liesegang by 1950.⁸

Military Service

In 1950, at twenty-one years old, Warren Liesegang enlisted into the US Navy. During his service, he held the position of DC-3, known as a Damage Controlman Petty Officer 3rd Class.⁹ This position in the Navy is responsible for a number of duties such as ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological, and radiological warfare. A DC-3 also instructs methods of damage control and CBR defense, and repairs damage control equipment and systems.¹⁰ Warren Liesegang served during the time of the Korean War but there is no available evidence that suggests that he was involved in any direct military action during the war. Following his service with the Navy, Warren Liesegang later served as a merchant seaman before retirement.¹¹

Beyond the Military

In 1954, while still serving in the military, Warren Liesegang married Darlene Denise Wiggins in Duval, Florida.¹² They later had a daughter named Theresa Leigh Liesegang.¹³ Warren and his family lived in different areas across the state of Florida, including Fruitland Park, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach.¹⁴ Liesegang retired in Fort Pierce, where he lived until his death on January 9th 1998 at age sixty-nine.¹⁵ Warren and his legacy are memorialized at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida to be remembered for generations to come.

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