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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Gloria J. Purscell
Gloria J. Purscell
Cedar Rapids
Gloria J. Purscell, 88, formerly of Des Moines, passed away in the early morning of Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids.
Gloria was born April 8, 1936, in Iowa City, Iowa to Richard and Bernice (Parisho) Rathjens. She graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1954. She married Earl “Wayne” Purscell on November 3, 1956.
Gloria was Office Manager for David Bear, Inc., Des Moines for many years. Upon her retirement from that position, she volunteered part-time as a patient and family greeter at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, and would later became a full-time Information Desk Clerk at the hospital. Gloria enjoyed interacting and helping patients and their families, as well as making friends with many hospital employees. She continued meeting with her retired Mercy friends for a monthly get- together for several years. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, visits from her nieces and nephews, doing crossword and word search puzzles, playing Bingo, and having an occasional margarita.
Gloria is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Brian (Laura) Purscell; son-in-law, Mark Stewart; grandson, Grant Purscell; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Heather (Ryan) Bradley; brother and sister-in-law, Richard (Pat) Rathjens; sisters, Julia Bunce and Loretta Rathjens; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Bernice and father, Richard, Sr.; her husband, Earl “Wayne” Purscell; greatly beloved daughter, Carla (Purscell) Stewart; sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis (Ed) Shimak; and brother, James “Jim” Rathjens.
The family will receive guests on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at The Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a Celebration of Life at 10:30a.m. Online condolences will be welcomed at www.goettschonline.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Gloria may be made to Suncrest Hospice, 1005 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Ste. 240, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
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