Nadine Purnell

Nadine was born on September 8, 1937 to Donald and Luella Chatfield in Holdrege, NE. She passed away on Friday, February 28, 2025 peacefully surrounded by her family at the age of 87. She was married to Richard (Dick) Purnell on August 31, 1957 in Kansas City, MO and enjoyed a 65-year marriage until Dick’s death in April 2023. They had 3 children: Cynthia, Steven and Susan.

When Nadine was young, she also lived in Marysville, KS, Columbia, MO and then her family eventually settled in Kansas City, MO. She learned to sew at an early age from her mother and they shared this interest in making clothes for themselves and family members for many years. She enjoyed close relationships with her brothers, John and Norman, which lasted all of their adult lives. She had pets when she was a child and taught her children to also be animal lovers. She was baptized in her early teens at Garfield Ave Baptist Church. She continued to be a member of various Baptist churches all her life and raised her children in the Baptist faith. She was very active in these churches. At the time of her death, she was a member of Holmeswood Baptist Church located in south Kansas City. Her faith was an integral part of her life. She learned to play the piano as a child sharing this interest with one of her brothers, Norman. She shared her gift of music by playing piano at Red Bridge Baptist church in south Kansas City when her children were young. She would also play the piano for her family on special occasions. During this time, she also taught Sunday School and volunteered for Vacation Bible School during the summer months.

Nadine graduated from Paseo High School and attended 2 years at University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) before marrying Dick Purnell. She studied Medical Technology at UMKC. Nadine’s best friend, Laura, asked Nadine to write a letter to Laura's boyfriend’s brother, Dick, because he was in the Air Force stationed in Germany and had just gotten a “Dear John” letter. Nadine wrote Dick a letter and he quickly replied. They continued to write to each until he came home for furlough when she finally met him in person. They spent every day together during his furlough. Dick had to return to Germany to finish his tour. After Dick was honorably discharged from the Air Force, they started dating and were married within the year. After her marriage to Dick Purnell, she worked at Social Security, until they started a family. Their first child was born in March 1959. The other 2 children were born in 1961 and 1962. She was a devoted wife, mother and friend. When her children were very young, her father passed away. Nadine asked her mother, Luella, to move in with her and her family. Luella lived with Nadine's family for many years until her death. As a result of Nadine’s mother living with them, they all had a very close bond.

Nadine was very involved with her children’s lives including teaching them how to play the piano, taking them to piano lessons and coaching them in various sports. She also attended her children’s band concerts. She developed her love of bowling when she married Dick. They spent many years bowling together in leagues and travelling with friends to bowling tournaments. She was a very good bowler and won many awards. She also taught her children how to bowl. She was a coach to her daughter’s softball teams and was instrumental in teaching them the importance of enjoying sports whether you win or not. Her youngest daughter, Susan, still plays various sports and has adopted this attitude in whatever sport she plays. Nadine was also involved with volunteering at her children’s schools as well as volunteering with various church programs. When Dick and Nadine’s children were young, she helped her husband with his rug cleaning business. She lived close to her brothers and brother-in-law while raising her family and enjoyed many holidays and special occasions with them. Friends and family were very important to her and kept in touch with many of them through the years.

After Nadine’s children were in high school, she returned to work full time at the Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General. She started as a secretary and advanced to a Computer Programmer Analyst at the time of her retirement. After Nadine retired, her husband and her took many trips to bowling tournaments, visiting relatives, going on cruises and other vacations. She developed a love for making craft items through the years. Making cross stitch items was one of her favorite hobbies. She spent many hours making beautiful cross stitch items. Some of these items were sold and some items were given to family members.

After Nadine’s children were grown and had families of their own. She was very happy to be included in her grandchildren’s lives by going to birthday parties, band concerts and other joyous events. She enjoyed decorating for the holidays and having her family over for holiday dinners. She also enjoyed spending time with her great-grandchildren and attending their special events.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother – John, husband – Dick and other relatives some of those were related by marriage.

Nadine is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Largent (Clay): son, Steven Purnell (Kelley) and daughter Susan Curtis (boyfriend – Mike Adams). Nadine and Dick have 4 grandchildren: Ashley (Tanner), Ian, Sean and Megan. She also had 4 great-grandchildren: Jozzlyn, Ellie, Mackenzie and Peyton. She also leaves behind her brother Norman Chatfield as well as many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations my be sent to Holmeswood Baptist Church, 9700 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.