Leroy Purcell

Madison - LeRoy E. Purcell, age 87, passed away on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Meriter Hospital. He was born in the town of Fitchburg, September 27, 1925 to Maurice Purcell and Genevieve (Lacy) Purcell. LeRoy attended Maple Corners School and Edgewood High School. After graduating in 1943, he entered the U.S. Army and served with the 77th Infantry and the 11th Airborne Divisions in the Philippines and Okinawa. After the war, LeRoy returned to Madison and joined a paratroop reserve unit and made several parachute drops at Ft. McCoy. He served in various reserve units in the Madison area until his discharge in 1980. LeRoy was united in marriage to Dolores Inman in 1951. He retired from Madison Gas & Electric after being employed for nearly 40 years. LeRoy was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. He enjoyed all sports, especially golfing, and the Packers and Badgers.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dolores J. Purcell; their children, Susan L. (Wayne) Mixdorf, Daniel C. (Cynthia) Purcell, Mary E. (Lee) McCann, Elizabeth J. Purcell (Cody Larson), Theresa M. (Christopher) Cook; his grandchildren, Patrick M. and Matthew L. Mixdorf, and Kelsey L. and Alexandra M. McCann; his sister, Kathleen (William) Phillips; a sister-in-law, Helen Purcell; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Robert and John; and a sister, Jane.

A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401. S. Owen Drive, Madison. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon on Thursday at church with Msgr. Kenneth J. Fiedler officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Queen of Peace Endowment Fund, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, WI 53705, or the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.