John "Jack" Purcell

John Purcell -- KankakeeJohn F. "Jack" Purcell Jr., 74, of Kankakee, died Thursday (Dec. 6, 2007) at Provena Heritage Village Nursing Home in Kankakee, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home on West Court Street in Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick's Church in Kankakee. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.After many courageous years living with physical limitations and ailments, Jack fought hard before passing peacefully surrounded by the love of his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley or Bishop McNamara High School.Jack was born April 13, 1933, in Kankakee. He was the son of John F. Purcell Sr. and Flavia "Tiny" Bennett Purcell and the brother of Norma Jean Purcell-Staubus, all of whom preceded him in death. He attended St. Patrick's Grade School and High School before joining the U.S. Navy in 1952. He received training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Waukegan as well as bases in Oklahoma and Tennessee before two tours on aircraft carriers overseas. As he served his country proudly, Jack saw the world, including bullfights in Spain and the Coliseum and Vatican City in Rome, Cuba, Algeria and much of the Mediterranean.Jack met the love of his life, Shirley (Boudreau) of Kankakee in December 1952 and they married on Feb. 23, 1957 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Kankakee. Wife Shirley survives, along with their six daughters and four sons: Karen and Thomas Mann of Birmingham, Ala., Dave and Vicki Purcell of Lincoln, Judy Todnem of Katy, Texas, Diane and Jamie Boyd of Kankakee, Linda Deagan of Lansing, Mich., Dan and Lynda Purcell of St. Clair, Mich., Patty and Stephen Goldstein of West Bloomfield, Mich., Chris and Jodi Purcell of O'Fallon, Mo., Peggy and Scott Mayer of Kankakee, and Andy and Meredith Purcell of Manteno; 26 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. One son, Stephen, preceded him in death.Jack was retired from Roper in Kankakee. He was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, where he was a volunteer for the Special Olympics and Tootsie Roll Drive and a bartender for many years. He was a member of the Kankakee VFW and a parishioner at St. Patrick's Church in Kankakee, where he served on the parish council and volunteered as an usher. He was active in his children's education, serving as a PTC member and softball coach at St. Patrick's Grade School, and a longtime volunteer at Bishop McNamara High School. He was a longtime area referee in basketball. In addition to being a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather and a literal "Jack" of all trades, he was an avid reader, Jeopardy game show fan, and long-suffering but always hopeful fan of the Chicago Cubs.

John "Jack" Purcell

April 13, 1933 - December 6, 2007