PURCELL, Edward Leroy 1917 - 1999

PURCELL, GASKILL, ARBUCKLE, GAGNON, KOFRON, OSWALD

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/3/2014 at 00:44:09

EDWARD L. PURCELL

MASON CITY -- Edward L. Purcell, 82, of Mason City, passed away Saturday (Oct. 2, 1999) at his daughter’s home in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Father John W. Hemann officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery, with graveside military rites conducted by the Clear Lake Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from4 to 8 p.m. today at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner, with a scriptural wake service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Edward Leroy Purcell, the son of Francis Stephen and Winnifred (Gaskill) Purcell, was born Aug. 4, 1917, on the family farm in Fertile Township. He graduated from Fertile High School in 1936. On March 11, 1941, he entered the U.S. Army and served his country at Normandy, northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and central Europe. He was discharged on Oct. 8, 1945. In 1942, he was married to Elvira Arbuckle. To this union a son, Michael Edward Purcell, was born. On Nov. 8, 1950, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Gagnon at Garner. Edward managed the Fertile Creamery for 10 years and then farmed in the Fertile and Clear Lake area until retiring in 1984 and moving to Mason City. He enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, and outdoor activities with his family. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, Trailrider’s Club and the Clear Lake V.F. W.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Purcell, of Garner, their children, Donald Purcell and his wife, Lois, of Garner, and their children, Pamela Marie and Patricia Kay, Cynthia Kofron and her husband, Rick, of Forest City, and their children, Mandi and Amy, and Jean Purcell, of Minneapolis; a daughter-in-law, Teri Purcell, of Minneapolis; and his son, Michael Purcell and his wife, Marti, of Buena Park, Calif., and their children, Dawn and Dena; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Eva Hain, of Minneapolis; and a brother, Dale Purcell and his wife, Rosella, of Lakeland, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Wayne Allan Purcell and Steven Ray Purcell; three brothers, Glen Purcell, Pat Purcell, and Mike Purcell; and a sister Marguerite Oswald.

Transcriber’s Note – Edward Leroy Purcell was born August 4, 1917, died October 2, 1999 and was buried in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Section H Row 1. Headstone in cemetery says he died August 8.