Jack Purcell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Jackie (Jack) Francis Purcell 90 From Algona, IA died peacefully on Wednesday February 13th, 2019. Visitation will be held 10:00 AM and a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:15 AM Saturday February 23rd at Lentz Funeral Home 403 E. McGregor St, Algona, Iowa. The burial will follow soon after at Riverview Cemetery. Meal at Grace Church 1923 E McGregor St, Algona, IA Jack was born on January 11th, 1929 in Mt. Pulaski, Ill. to Everett and Dorothy (Dunn) Purcell. Jack had 6 other brothers and 3 sisters. Born deaf at birth, Jack attended the Illinois School for the Deaf and graduated high school in 1947. Jack loved being a boy scout and finished as an Eagle Scout. While in high school he took three years of printing as a vocation. After graduating, he spent a year running a hand-fed press at the Lincoln Courier, and then took off for Chicago to look for a new job. Baumgartner Printing Co would be the next business he would work for. Jack said, “it was a Hugh printing plant. My first job was to print nude girls on calendars and I was so shy that I just couldn’t do that, so I quit on my second day.” Soon he took a job at DyDee Wash and worked there for almost 4 years. This was a diaper cleaning and delivery service. No disposable (pamper) diapers back then. A change in vocation was imminent and Jack moved on to Charles City, IA where he spent six months at the Midland Linotype School. An ad in Publishers Auxiliary then drew him to Algona and an interview with R. B. Waller, owner/publisher of the Algona Publishing Co. Russ asked Jack at his interview if he could set two galleys of type in an hour. Jack fudged a bit, answered "Yes I think so" and had himself a job as the Linotype operator. Wasn't long and Waller realized he was a galley short each hour, but let him stay on, and Jack gradually learned to type faster. He would work for this company for another 53 years retiring at the age of 77. It was in 1956 when Jack went to a five-state softball tournament for the deaf in Fort Dodge that he met his future wife, Doris, who was from Sioux Falls, SD. She, too, is deaf. They began to date and Jack would drive to Sioux Falls on weekends to see Doris. They were married the next year on Sept 1st 1957 and had five children; Dan, Deb, Tom, Susan and Jim. Printing was not Jack Purcell's entire life. Jack was active with the Mascia Club of the Deaf at Mason City, the North Central Club of the Deaf, Fort Dodge; vice president of the Iowa Association for the Deaf and a member of the National Association of the Deaf. He also served on the Deaf Services Commission of Iowa, for 15 years. Jack was an active leader in the Church they attended in Algona too. Jack was a true servant to all people. Jack Is survived by Doris his wife of 61 years & daughter Deb Brody her 2 children. Dan Purcell & wife Shawn his 5 step-children, Tom Purcell & wife Joni his 3 children and 3 step-children. Jim Purcell & wife Kerstin. He is also is survived by 3 brothers Alfred, Everett, Jerry and one sister Loriene. Jack has 15 grandchildren & 13 great grandchildren. Jack was proceeded by his Daughter Susan Purcell and Grandson Zachariah Purcell, Grandson Jack Purcell & Great Grandson Xander Brody.

Jack Purcell

January 11, 1929 - February 13, 2019