WILLIAM R. PURCELL 1926 - 2003

REITER, PURCELL, MEITL, MASON, LARRISON, JOGERST, CONNER, ODELL, NOVIS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/12/2003 at 12:44:13

William R. Purcell

Telegraph Herald - Tuesday, July 29, 2003

William R. Purcell, 77, of 2075 Avalon Road, died at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2003, at ManorCare Health Services.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 6, of Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where members of the 40/8 Veterans Association will meet at 6:30 p.m., and there will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Purcell was employed as a fireman for the city of Dubuque for 33 years until his retirement. He also drove a school bus and worked part-time for the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department.

He was born on March 26, 1926, in Dubuque, son of John R. and Susan A. (Reiter) Purcell. He married Gladys M. Meitl on June 2, 1951, at St. Joseph the Worker Church.

He attended Dubuque Senior High School and served with the Navy during World War II.

He was a member of St. Anthony's Parish, the Iowa Firemans' Association and the American Legion Post 6, of Dubuque, where he served as the commander. He also was a member of the Voiture 632 of the 40/8 and had served as the Chef de Gare. He had been the Christmas Basket Chairman for 22 years for the American Legion.

Bill was an avid sports fan and loved his Cubs. He looked forward to family gatherings and spending time with his grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys M. Purcell; two daughters, Cheryl L. (Randy) Mason and Barbara J. Larrison, both of Dubuque; two sons, Kenneth P. (Karen) Purcell, of River Forest, Ill., and David D. (Patricia) Purcell, of Georgetown, Texas; six grandchildren, Nicole and Ryan Mason, Casey Purcell, Kimberly and Eric Purcell and P.J. Larrison; three sisters, Marie (Ernie) Jogerst, of Dubuque, Margaret Conner, of West Burlington, Iowa, and Catherine (Ed) O'Dell Novis, of Great Falls, Mont.; a brother, James T. (Betty) Purcell, of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law, Rita Purcell, of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John Purcell; a sister-in-law, Joan Purcell; and two brothers-in-law, Joseph O'Dell and William Conner.

In lieu of flowers, a William R. Purcell Memorial Fund has been established.