Changes

Vonnegut was born to a prominent family in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]].  His eight great-grandparents (father's surname "Funnegut" changed to "Vonnegut"<ref>Vonnegut, Kurt (1981). ''Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage'' (New York:  Dell), p. 24.</ref>) immigrated from Germany to America in the mid-19th century.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', pp. 22-23.</ref> His father's family regarded themselves as [[atheist]]s, Vonnegut styling them "Free Thinkers", one of his ancestors arranging to have his disbelief in life after death expressed at his funeral oration.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 193.</ref>

Vonnegut was born to a prominent family in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]].  His eight great-grandparents (father's surname "Funnegut" changed to "Vonnegut"<ref>Vonnegut, Kurt (1981). ''Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage'' (New York:  Dell), p. 24.</ref>) immigrated from Germany to America in the mid-19th century.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', pp. 22-23.</ref> His father's family regarded themselves as [[atheist]]s, Vonnegut styling them "Free Thinkers", one of his ancestors arranging to have his disbelief in life after death expressed at his funeral oration.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 193.</ref>

His parents' wedding was held as a grand event in Indianapolis, attended by those in the highest social circles there.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 51.</ref> His father was trained as an architect and Vonnegut recounts he would often tell true stories with what he felt were unusual outcomes that he felt stood on their own merit as worth telling.

His parents' wedding was held as a grand event in Indianapolis, attended by those in the highest social circles there.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 51.</ref> His father was trained as an architect, and Vonnegut recounts he would often tell true stories with what he felt were unusual outcomes that he felt stood on their own merit as worth telling.

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.