Joseph Bruckner was born in Vienna, Austria on December 3, 1864, the third of six children born to Johanna and Leopold Bruckner.

According to a passport application he filed in 1890, Joseph immigrated to the United States when he was 18 years old, arriving in New York City on June 10, 1882. It also indicates he became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. on July 15, 1887.

The passport application describes him as 5'6" tall with light blue eyes, a Grecian nose, light complexion and blonde hair.

On June 10, 1897 he married Rose Ann Donohue in New York City. They would have five children:

Mary Helena "May" Bruckner (b. 1898)

Joseph Ambrose Bruckner (b. 1900)

John Leo Bruckner (b. 1901)

Joan E. "Rose" Bruckner (b. 1904)

Edwin Thomas Bruckner (b. 1909)

His wife would die in 1912 at age 37.

He married Margaret "Marge" Cunningham on May 6, 1920 in Manhattan, New York. (New York Marriage Certificate #17560). They had a son, Joseph, who was born and died Feb. 1, 1921.

U.S. census and other records indicate his occupation usually was related to food service (bartender, cook, etc.). But in the 1930 U.S. census, his occupation is shown as musician. At least two of his sisters had received training at the Vienna Academy of Music, and it's possible that Joseph had, too.

Joseph facilitated the eventual immigration to the United States of his birth family. First, his sister, Stella, arrived in 1886. Then his sister, Bertha, came in 1892, followed by sister, Jenny, in 1906. After his father died in 1910, his mother, Johanna, and his sister, Cecila, both immigrated. It is believed his only brother, Edward, had died as a child in Austria.

Joseph died October 12, 1938 at age 73 in New York City from general arteriosclerosis and heart disease according to his death certificate. His daughter, Mary Bruckner O'Brien, signed as informant. He was buried at St. Raymond's Cemetery on October 15, 1938.

(Bio by Lora Hammond Weber, January 5, 2022)