Sixth Generation

207. Merle Lorian PURDY was born on 28 January 1921 in Monroe County, WI.^76,99,259 (His birth date may have been 28 Jan 1920 and his middle name may have been spelled "Lorian.") He appeared in the census in 1930 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ He died on 14 April 2007 at the age of 86 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹

Obituary Notes: "Merle Lorian Purdy, 86, of Tomah, died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at the Touch of Home. He was born Jan. 28, 1921, to Floyd and Nita (Dickenson) Purdy. He was united in marriage to Avona Heeler on April 11, 1942, at St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Town of Kirby. They lived their entire life in the Tomah and Warrens area. This union was blessed with two daughters, Karen and Karleen. Merle was a Gardner Bakery salesman for over 32 years, retiring in 1981. He made many friends over those years. After retirement, he “dabbled” in woodworking; many of his projects were completed for family. He enjoyed baseball in particular, and watching many other sports, either on TV or that his grandchildren participated in. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed.

Merle is survived by his wife of 65 years and two daughters, Karen (Boomer) Betthauser of Oakdale and Karleen (Dave) Linehan of Tomah; five grandchildren, Trish Betthauser of Kenosha, Teri (Jeff) Derousseau of Tomah and Tiffany Betthauser of Eden Prairie, MN, David Linehan and Jenny (Chad) Martin, all of Tomah; four great-grandchildren, Dylan, Reis and Dustin Derousseau and Jackson Martin; five sisters, Marlene Wilde, Gloria Kochinski, Garnet Schroeder of Tomah, Connie Whitney of Warrens and Sharon (Don) Munson of Ripley, MS, and a brother, Gilbert (Betty) of Tennessee; brothers-in-law Hubert Hueler of California, Marvin (Lucille) H numerous nephews and nieces. He is also survived by family friend JoAnne Lunde and son Jeremiah.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant children, brothers Leland, Dale and Craig Purdy, sister Leone Vandervort, and brothers-in-law LaVern Wilde, Julius Kochinski, Chuck Schroeder, Chuck Whitney, Sylvester Heeler and Lawrence Vandervort.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 N. Superior Ave, Tomah. Pastor Curt Backhaus officiated. Burial was in the Warrens Mills Cemetery, Warrens.

Relatives and friends are called at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, on Tuesday, April 17, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service."

Merle Lorian PURDY and Avona Sylvia HUELER were married on 11 April 1942 in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,259 Avona Sylvia HUELER, daughter of (Unknown) HUELER and Helena T. BOETTCHER, was born on 19 March 1923 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^76,259 She graduated in 1941 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶⁸ from Tomah High School.

Merle Lorian PURDY and Avona Sylvia HUELER had the following children: