Robert J. Purcell

PURCELL, COSGROVE, CAIN, ZWACK, BIRKETT, DANNER, PITZ, MORROW, FARBER, KANE, PLEIN, BURKE

Posted By: J. Nicks (email)
Date: 12/10/2004 at 10:22:45

Telegraph Herald Dec 9, 2004

Robert J. Purcell

Robert J. Purcell, 78, of ManorCare Health Services, formerly of 2995 Kennedy Road, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004, at ManorCare.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League.

Mr. Purcell worked at John Deere Dubuque Works, retiring in 1988.

He was born on Feb. 2, 1926, in Dubuque, son of Philip and Loretta (Cosgrove) Purcell. Robert was born in Dubuque, and was very proud of the fact that he grew up on the south side in Dubuque's "Little Dublin."

He served with the Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theater.
On June 28, 1973, Robert married the love of his life, Joan Zwack; she passed away on Aug. 15, 1988.
He enjoyed reading, walking and exercising.

Surviving are his children, Michael (Cheryl) Birkett and David (Wan) Birkett, both of Dubuque, Gregory (Sherri) Birkett and Cristian (Jackie) Purcell, both of Durango, Iowa, Loretta Danner and Joseph Purcell, both of Joplin, Mo., and Robert (Julie) Purcell Jr., of Miami, Okla.; and two nieces, Loretta (Dorrance) Pitz, of Dubuque, and June Morrow, of Sun City, Ariz.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Adam Birkett;
two brothers, Philip and Thomas;
four sisters, Marie Farber, Violet Kane, Dorothy Plein and Ruth Burke; and an aunt, Thelma Cosgrove.