Donald Purcell

was born August 31, 1929 in Ottawa, Ill., (a fact he liked to emphasize to his wife, as he was thrilled to be able to say he was 10 days younger than she was). He was born to Albert and Charlotte Purcell and was the older brother of Jean and Patricia Purcell.

Growing up in Chicago, Don worked setting bowling pins at 10-cents a pin and went downtown to watch Vaudeville shows. He was even known to run down to the A&P to buy nylons for his sisters when they needed them. His father and mother (an original Radium Girl) both preceded him in death.

Don married Doris DeVer in 1952 and the two remained married for the next 36 years, although Don worked out of town for years, traveling back and forth between Olathe and Wichita so that Doris could stay home with their two girls, Michelle and Felicia, and their son, Philip. Throughout his life, Don worked at Southwest Grease in Wichita, Witco Chemical in Olathe, was a bartender at the T-Bone Supper Club in Wichita, a spotlight operator for the T-Bone’s dancers, served in the United States Air Force, and volunteered as a reserve officer in the Wichita Police Department.

When he wasn’t working 90-hour weeks, Don took martial arts under Roger Carpenter (he started at age 44) and brought his daughter, Felicia, along with him. The two ran laps and did knuckle push-ups together, and the practice of karate cemented Don’s love of Bruce Lee. In his workout room at home, nunchucks and samurai swords hung on the walls. An avid exerciser, he lifted weights at the YMCA until he was 85 years old; the only thing that sidelined his routine was a torn bicep. To relax, Don loved to listen to classical music, especially opera sung by his favorite tenor, Mario Lanza. His film and music collection was dear to him, and he was willing to share his love of music with anyone he met.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Jean and Pat, his wife, Doris Faye Purcell, his mother and father-in-law Mildred and Joseph Foross, his son, Philip Glenn Ellsworth, and his son-in-law, Thomas Brasser.

He is survived by his daughters Michelle Purcell-Brasser of Maize, Felicia (J.W.) Keeton of Maize, grandchildren Derek (Heather) Ellsworth of Wichita, Damon (Tricia) Ellsworth of Wichita, Deah (Jason) Duda of Wichita, Aubree Brasser of Maize, Caitlin (Ronnie) West of Wichita Falls, Tex., and Courtney (Antonio) Aramburu of Wichita, and great-grandchildren Stacia, Mak, Bailey, Landon, Avery, Jackson, Honor, Lincoln, Connor, Emily, Tony, and Cort.

Private Services are being held for immediate family. May God bless you and keep you all until we meet again.