Obituary of Peter M. Purdy

Peter M. Purdy, age 77 of Iowa City, died Wednesday, January 28th, 2004 at the Solon Nursing Care Center in Solon after enduring years of Alzheimer’s disease. Cremation services were provided by Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation service of Iowa City. Memorial services will be held Sunday, Feb. 1st, 2004 at 1:00pm at the Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with the Rev. David Johnson officiating. Peter Morrell Purdy was born December 20, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota the son of Harold and Gertrude (Foster) Purdy. As a young man he attended Kemper Military School. After graduation from high school Pete enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for 2 years. Upon discharge from active service, he enrolled and graduated in 1950 from the University of Kansas. That year he married the late Mary Sue Weimer and together they had 2 sons, Charles Wayne Purdy and Steve Morrell Purdy. He married Barbara Strang in 1980. For nearly 40 years, Pete worked for the John Morrell Company, a company that his grandfather, Thomas Henry Foster, brought from England first to Chicago and then to Ottumwa, Iowa. The Ottumwa location became the headquarters for the nationwide operation. A plant was opened at a later time in Sioux Falls, SD. Pete was a member of the Calvary Cathedral Church in Sioux Falls, past exalted ruler of the Elks Club and a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed his membership at the Minnihaha Country Club where he often played golf and pitch with his friends….and he almost always took the money home! He was a 1000-hour volunteer at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. His family includes his wife, Barbara Purdy; sons, Charles Wayne Purdy of Sioux Falls, SD and Steve Morrell Purdy of Hebron, KY; his sister Mrs. Buford (Joan) Roney of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; three stepchildren, James, Mary Beth, and Mitchel; and 6 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and late wife, Mary Sue Purdy. Barbara, Pete’s wife will always remember her husband as a gentle man and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. “He had a great smile and dry sense of humor and never had a bad word to say about anyone; he was polite and courteous, and spent his life living those values. He was one of the nicest human beings I have ever known. He was everything that was good.” Barbara wishes to thank all the wonderful and caring individuals at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Their outstanding care and compassion for Peter during these many difficult months helped to make an unbearable situation tolerable. I will never forget their tender loving care for both Peter and me. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Pete’s memory to any of the following; Sioux Falls Children’s Inn or Children’s hospital, Humane Society, and the Alzeimer’s Disease Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for Pete’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Pete’s family and his arrangements locally.