Father: Albert Charles Purpus 1873-1972
Mother: Jennie Lillian Thomas Purpus 1885-1947
Delbert was adopted from the Quincy Foundling Home at 10 months old.
Spouse: Phyllis 'Juanita' Stout 1915-1945
Marriage: 1934 Brown County, Ill - Divorce 1940
Child: Lila Jeaneen Purpus 1935-
Spouse: Celestine 'Celeste' Rafferty 1919-1995
Marriage: 1954 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Child: Donald Eugene Purpus 1955-
Delbert lived on the Purpus family farm with his mother and father and grandmother Marie S. He remembered at age 16 of helping his father Albert carry his grandmother Marie's body behind the home and helping bury her in the Purpus Family Cemetery. He attended Little Missouri School in Brown County.
He operated a Shell Oil station in Kellerville, Buckhorn Tsp during the early part of the Great Depression in the 1930's when he was married to Juanita. He had to close the station when the Depression hit and the family farm was divided between the Purpus family. He then worked at a local rock quarry. During this time he also earned money singing and playing his music. He loved any kind, but his penchant was for Country Western and Gospel. He was quite talented as a singer, accoustical guitar and bass fiddle player. When he was only 17 years old, he played bass in an area dance band called the 'Bernie Alvins Band' However, when Prohibition and the Great Depression hit the country, dance bands were not as prevelant. So between 1934 and 1938 when Prohibition and the Depression many bands disolved. So between 1934 and 1938, Delbert and his friend Earl Whited sang and played guitars and sang at many functions in Brown, Schuyler and Cass Counties in Illinois calling themselves 'The Sleepy River Boys'. They played County Fairs, Festivals, Dances, etc. They had a radio show on WCAZ Carthage. They also were invited to play on WLS Radio Station in Chicago.
He finally found a good job driving big rigs in the Chicago area in 1938 and during the war when truckers were needed he found his vocation. He was never without music while driving his 'big rig' with his CB radio. He loved meeting new people while traveling across the country. He found a cousin living in California and they formed a bond tracing the Purpus family back to the 17th and 16th Centuries in Germany. He retired in 1979.
His second marriage to Celeste in 1954 gave him son Donald and after he retired from driving, he and Celeste traveled over the country and in 1983 purchased a mobile home in Lake Placid, Florida where they spent the winters visiting with his daughter Jeaneen ahd her husband and his grandson and great grandchildren. He passed away peacefully at his home in Hickory Hills with his devoted son by his side.
Mother: Jennie Lillian Thomas Purpus 1885-1947
Delbert was adopted from the Quincy Foundling Home at 10 months old.
Spouse: Phyllis 'Juanita' Stout 1915-1945
Marriage: 1934 Brown County, Ill - Divorce 1940
Child: Lila Jeaneen Purpus 1935-
Spouse: Celestine 'Celeste' Rafferty 1919-1995
Marriage: 1954 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Child: Donald Eugene Purpus 1955-
Delbert lived on the Purpus family farm with his mother and father and grandmother Marie S. He remembered at age 16 of helping his father Albert carry his grandmother Marie's body behind the home and helping bury her in the Purpus Family Cemetery. He attended Little Missouri School in Brown County.
He operated a Shell Oil station in Kellerville, Buckhorn Tsp during the early part of the Great Depression in the 1930's when he was married to Juanita. He had to close the station when the Depression hit and the family farm was divided between the Purpus family. He then worked at a local rock quarry. During this time he also earned money singing and playing his music. He loved any kind, but his penchant was for Country Western and Gospel. He was quite talented as a singer, accoustical guitar and bass fiddle player. When he was only 17 years old, he played bass in an area dance band called the 'Bernie Alvins Band' However, when Prohibition and the Great Depression hit the country, dance bands were not as prevelant. So between 1934 and 1938 when Prohibition and the Depression many bands disolved. So between 1934 and 1938, Delbert and his friend Earl Whited sang and played guitars and sang at many functions in Brown, Schuyler and Cass Counties in Illinois calling themselves 'The Sleepy River Boys'. They played County Fairs, Festivals, Dances, etc. They had a radio show on WCAZ Carthage. They also were invited to play on WLS Radio Station in Chicago.
He finally found a good job driving big rigs in the Chicago area in 1938 and during the war when truckers were needed he found his vocation. He was never without music while driving his 'big rig' with his CB radio. He loved meeting new people while traveling across the country. He found a cousin living in California and they formed a bond tracing the Purpus family back to the 17th and 16th Centuries in Germany. He retired in 1979.
His second marriage to Celeste in 1954 gave him son Donald and after he retired from driving, he and Celeste traveled over the country and in 1983 purchased a mobile home in Lake Placid, Florida where they spent the winters visiting with his daughter Jeaneen ahd her husband and his grandson and great grandchildren. He passed away peacefully at his home in Hickory Hills with his devoted son by his side.
Father: Albert Charles Purpus 1873-1972
Mother: Jennie Lillian Thomas Purpus 1885-1947
Delbert was adopted from the Quincy Foundling Home at 10 months old.
Spouse: Phyllis 'Juanita' Stout 1915-1945
Marriage: 1934 Brown County, Ill - Divorce 1940
Child: Lila Jeaneen Purpus 1935-
Spouse: Celestine 'Celeste' Rafferty 1919-1995
Marriage: 1954 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Child: Donald Eugene Purpus 1955-
Delbert lived on the Purpus family farm with his mother and father and grandmother Marie S. He remembered at age 16 of helping his father Albert carry his grandmother Marie's body behind the home and helping bury her in the Purpus Family Cemetery. He attended Little Missouri School in Brown County.
He operated a Shell Oil station in Kellerville, Buckhorn Tsp during the early part of the Great Depression in the 1930's when he was married to Juanita. He had to close the station when the Depression hit and the family farm was divided between the Purpus family. He then worked at a local rock quarry. During this time he also earned money singing and playing his music. He loved any kind, but his penchant was for Country Western and Gospel. He was quite talented as a singer, accoustical guitar and bass fiddle player. When he was only 17 years old, he played bass in an area dance band called the 'Bernie Alvins Band' However, when Prohibition and the Great Depression hit the country, dance bands were not as prevelant. So between 1934 and 1938 when Prohibition and the Depression many bands disolved. So between 1934 and 1938, Delbert and his friend Earl Whited sang and played guitars and sang at many functions in Brown, Schuyler and Cass Counties in Illinois calling themselves 'The Sleepy River Boys'. They played County Fairs, Festivals, Dances, etc. They had a radio show on WCAZ Carthage. They also were invited to play on WLS Radio Station in Chicago.
He finally found a good job driving big rigs in the Chicago area in 1938 and during the war when truckers were needed he found his vocation. He was never without music while driving his 'big rig' with his CB radio. He loved meeting new people while traveling across the country. He found a cousin living in California and they formed a bond tracing the Purpus family back to the 17th and 16th Centuries in Germany. He retired in 1979.
His second marriage to Celeste in 1954 gave him son Donald and after he retired from driving, he and Celeste traveled over the country and in 1983 purchased a mobile home in Lake Placid, Florida where they spent the winters visiting with his daughter Jeaneen ahd her husband and his grandson and great grandchildren. He passed away peacefully at his home in Hickory Hills with his devoted son by his side.
Mother: Jennie Lillian Thomas Purpus 1885-1947
Delbert was adopted from the Quincy Foundling Home at 10 months old.
Spouse: Phyllis 'Juanita' Stout 1915-1945
Marriage: 1934 Brown County, Ill - Divorce 1940
Child: Lila Jeaneen Purpus 1935-
Spouse: Celestine 'Celeste' Rafferty 1919-1995
Marriage: 1954 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Child: Donald Eugene Purpus 1955-
Delbert lived on the Purpus family farm with his mother and father and grandmother Marie S. He remembered at age 16 of helping his father Albert carry his grandmother Marie's body behind the home and helping bury her in the Purpus Family Cemetery. He attended Little Missouri School in Brown County.
He operated a Shell Oil station in Kellerville, Buckhorn Tsp during the early part of the Great Depression in the 1930's when he was married to Juanita. He had to close the station when the Depression hit and the family farm was divided between the Purpus family. He then worked at a local rock quarry. During this time he also earned money singing and playing his music. He loved any kind, but his penchant was for Country Western and Gospel. He was quite talented as a singer, accoustical guitar and bass fiddle player. When he was only 17 years old, he played bass in an area dance band called the 'Bernie Alvins Band' However, when Prohibition and the Great Depression hit the country, dance bands were not as prevelant. So between 1934 and 1938 when Prohibition and the Depression many bands disolved. So between 1934 and 1938, Delbert and his friend Earl Whited sang and played guitars and sang at many functions in Brown, Schuyler and Cass Counties in Illinois calling themselves 'The Sleepy River Boys'. They played County Fairs, Festivals, Dances, etc. They had a radio show on WCAZ Carthage. They also were invited to play on WLS Radio Station in Chicago.
He finally found a good job driving big rigs in the Chicago area in 1938 and during the war when truckers were needed he found his vocation. He was never without music while driving his 'big rig' with his CB radio. He loved meeting new people while traveling across the country. He found a cousin living in California and they formed a bond tracing the Purpus family back to the 17th and 16th Centuries in Germany. He retired in 1979.
His second marriage to Celeste in 1954 gave him son Donald and after he retired from driving, he and Celeste traveled over the country and in 1983 purchased a mobile home in Lake Placid, Florida where they spent the winters visiting with his daughter Jeaneen ahd her husband and his grandson and great grandchildren. He passed away peacefully at his home in Hickory Hills with his devoted son by his side.
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