Obituary of Kenneth Joseph Prior

Kenneth “Ken” J. Prior passed away on Thursday. February 9, 2023, at St. Clare’s Hospital, Dover, NJ,  of complications from diabetes, just days short of  his 82 birthday.  Family members were in attendance.

Ken was born in New York City to David J. and Frances L. Prior and raised there and in North Bergen, NJ.  He often said the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting and marrying his beloved wife, Barbara Lattig, who predeceased him in 2001.  They shared many interests, traveled and doted on their many nephews and nieces.  They were truly likeminded and shared many experiences, from their choice of music to vacation spots – from The Bahamas and Bermuda to camping at the Thousand Islands on the Canadian-US border. They were sympatico.  He loved Scotland (birthplace of his dad) and the bagpipes.

He had an inquisitive mind and loved to debate issues and explore new avenues of knowledge, particularly history.  Indeed, he had an encyclopedic familiarity with historic events.  He liked nothing more than to debate the issues of the day and his gift for gab enabled him to hold his own on any Issue.

Of all his stellar qualities, he was noted for his unbounded willingness to help others. He would proverbially “give the shirt off his back” to those in need.

He worked for 40 years for the United States Post Office in Morris County.  That he worked for a federal agency was quite fitting because no one was more patriotic than was Ken. There is a family  story of Ken, just a little tike in a pram, waving an American flag and singing “God Bless America” at t the top of his voice. He never lost that compassion for the American ideal.    Many of his postal workers are still his friends.

While we are deeply sorry for his passing, we can take comfort that he will be reunited with his Barbara.

He leaves behind his brother James of Denville and his wife, Johanna, and their three children Allison Ferris  of Denville, NJ and her three children, Erik, Brandon (wife Katie) and Sydney Ferris; Scott Prior and his wife Lorie of Lake Hopatcong, NJ and their three children Scotty, Sean, Nicole, and Sean Prior and his partner Carol of Newton, NJ, and his three children Amanda (Prior) Hoppe, Heather (Prior) and her husband Carlos Gamboa; and Ashely (Prior) and her husband Pat Boyle of Neptune, NJ   Also, Mary Prior of Belmar.

Ken also leaves his brothers-in-law Glenn Lattig and his wife Mary of Morgan Hill, CA and their daughter Jennifer Murphy and son Weston of Chandler, Arizona; and Fred Lattig and his wife, Jan, and their children Victoria Lattig of Beachwood, NJ and Elizabeth and husband Angelo Pafumi of Las Vegas, NV

His great grand nephews and nieces include:  Adriana and Mieke Hoppe; and  Jayden and Joycelyn Gamboa.

Visitation will be held on Monday February13, 2023 from 3:00PM to 7:00PM at Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave Denville, NJ 07834 www.normandean.com.  A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 10:00AM at the funeral home followed by interment at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa, NJ.