Willard Foster Purcell

Bill (Willard Foster) Purcell, 82, Wimbledon, North Dakota died Friday, May 16, 2003 at Jamestown Hospital, Jamestown, North Dakota. Bill Purcell was born August 20, 1920 in Benton, Illinois the son of Willard and Kate (Henry) Purcell. His parents passed away when he was 2 years old. He was raised in the Carmi Baptist Orphanage in Carmi, Illinois until he was 12 years old, at which time he moved to the Metropolis, Illinois area. He married Frieda Meyers January 3, 1943 in Alexandria, Louisiana while he was stationed at Camp Claybourn, Louisiana. Bill spent 3 years in the Army in the European Theater serving in the Artilliary, earning three battle stars.

On July 26, 1977 he married his wife, Dianne Paasch in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Bill retired in 1980 from General Foods Corp. after 40 years as plant manager, at which time they moved to Wimbledon, North Dakota. He was a devoted member of St. John's United Methodist Church, Wimbledon. He also enjoyed membership in the Mason Lodge #71 having served as Worshipful Master, the American Legion, LaBrash-Altringer Post #236, Wimbledon and the Wimbledon Community Museum Board.

Bill was known as the Pie Baker King and was a charter member of the Wimbledon Cenex Coffee Club. He enjoyed antiquing, feeding the neighborhood squirrels and birds, cryptogram puzzles, working outside, his feline buddy, Wally, dining out, teasing the ladies and visiting with everyone. He enjoyed people and had a huge capacity of understanding and empathy. Youth and young adults sensed his sincere interest in them. He will be dearly missed by all his relatives and friends.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mary (John) Wheeler, Bourbonnais, Illinois, one step-daughter, Dorothy (Buck) Lange, Metropolis, Illinois, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two sisters-in-law, Hazel Purcell, Kankakee, Illinois and Lola Purcell, Rockford, Illinois and their children and Dianne's family, Alpha Walker, Lorene Paasch, Glenn and Leah Schulz, Wimbledon, ND; Marjorie and Don Triebold, Dazey, ND; Jerry Paasch, Seattle, WA; Karen and Harold Hagen, Jamestown, ND; Jewels and Rob Swenson, Charlestown, RI; Tammy and Rhett Cooper, Salt Lake City, UT and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, beloved James and Noble and relatives George Walker, Freddie Paasch, Mike Paasch, Charlotte Paasch Schulz and Laurie Paasch.

Memorial Service: 1:30 PM, Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at St. John's United Methodist Church, Wimbledon, with the Reverend Michael Ward officiating.

Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Jamestown.

Memorials: Hospice Program of Jamestown Hospital, Jamestown, North Dakota.