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Donald Lynn Purdy of Coeur d'Alene passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 3, of an extended illness. He was born on May 25, 1918, in Eureka, Mont., to Lynn and Jessie (Crowley) Purdy. He graduated from Eureka High School and attended the University of Montana and Montana State University.
Serving our country in the Air Corps during World War II, Donald was sent overseas and flew 55 missions as a gunner on a B-26 Marauder. He was shot down and captured by the enemy as a POW. He earned multiple purple hearts and a POW medal.
After the war he settled in Spokane and met Martha Cabbage, They dated, got engaged and enjoyed a June wedding. They dreamed of a large family and their own business, so the young couple moved to Coeur d'Alene and started their own grocery store, as they brought into this world their four children. Donald sold the store in 1954, and drove for Wonder Bread for 29 years.
Donald enjoyed any time spent with his children, especially building a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene with them and his friends. He loved to swim and water ski -- he taught everyone he knew how to ski. This included his sister-in-law Marie, who he failed to tell to stand up after she was out of the water. We all still get a good laugh out of that!
He enjoyed attending his children's activities and having their friends visit him at his house and the lake cabin. After his retirement from Wonder Bread, he was always willing to help family and friends with their projects.
Dad was a wonderful father, husband and friend. He was always playing pranks and making us laugh. Dad always enjoyed our vacations back to the family farm in Eureka, haying with his dad, brothers, and nephews and nieces.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha; his daughters, Janice and Susan of Coeur d'Alene; his sons, Don (Wendy) of Portland, Ore. and Dennis of Dalton Gardens; his grandchildren, Emily (Todd) Johnson of Portland, and Jay Purdy of San Francisco; and great-granddaughter Addison Johnson of Portland.
Donald Lynn Purdy of Coeur d'Alene passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 3, of an extended illness. He was born on May 25, 1918, in Eureka, Mont., to Lynn and Jessie (Crowley) Purdy. He graduated from Eureka High School and attended the University of Montana and Montana State University.
Serving our country in the Air Corps during World War II, Donald was sent overseas and flew 55 missions as a gunner on a B-26 Marauder. He was shot down and captured by the enemy as a POW. He earned multiple purple hearts and a POW medal.
After the war he settled in Spokane and met Martha Cabbage, They dated, got engaged and enjoyed a June wedding. They dreamed of a large family and their own business, so the young couple moved to Coeur d'Alene and started their own grocery store, as they brought into this world their four children. Donald sold the store in 1954, and drove for Wonder Bread for 29 years.
Donald enjoyed any time spent with his children, especially building a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene with them and his friends. He loved to swim and water ski -- he taught everyone he knew how to ski. This included his sister-in-law Marie, who he failed to tell to stand up after she was out of the water. We all still get a good laugh out of that!
He enjoyed attending his children's activities and having their friends visit him at his house and the lake cabin. After his retirement from Wonder Bread, he was always willing to help family and friends with their projects.
Dad was a wonderful father, husband and friend. He was always playing pranks and making us laugh. Dad always enjoyed our vacations back to the family farm in Eureka, haying with his dad, brothers, and nephews and nieces.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha; his daughters, Janice and Susan of Coeur d'Alene; his sons, Don (Wendy) of Portland, Ore. and Dennis of Dalton Gardens; his grandchildren, Emily (Todd) Johnson of Portland, and Jay Purdy of San Francisco; and great-granddaughter Addison Johnson of Portland.
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Donald Lynn Purdy of Coeur d'Alene passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 3, of an extended illness. He was born on May 25, 1918, in Eureka, Mont., to Lynn and Jessie (Crowley) Purdy. He graduated from Eureka High School and attended the University of Montana and Montana State University.
Serving our country in the Air Corps during World War II, Donald was sent overseas and flew 55 missions as a gunner on a B-26 Marauder. He was shot down and captured by the enemy as a POW. He earned multiple purple hearts and a POW medal.
After the war he settled in Spokane and met Martha Cabbage, They dated, got engaged and enjoyed a June wedding. They dreamed of a large family and their own business, so the young couple moved to Coeur d'Alene and started their own grocery store, as they brought into this world their four children. Donald sold the store in 1954, and drove for Wonder Bread for 29 years.
Donald enjoyed any time spent with his children, especially building a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene with them and his friends. He loved to swim and water ski -- he taught everyone he knew how to ski. This included his sister-in-law Marie, who he failed to tell to stand up after she was out of the water. We all still get a good laugh out of that!
He enjoyed attending his children's activities and having their friends visit him at his house and the lake cabin. After his retirement from Wonder Bread, he was always willing to help family and friends with their projects.
Dad was a wonderful father, husband and friend. He was always playing pranks and making us laugh. Dad always enjoyed our vacations back to the family farm in Eureka, haying with his dad, brothers, and nephews and nieces.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha; his daughters, Janice and Susan of Coeur d'Alene; his sons, Don (Wendy) of Portland, Ore. and Dennis of Dalton Gardens; his grandchildren, Emily (Todd) Johnson of Portland, and Jay Purdy of San Francisco; and great-granddaughter Addison Johnson of Portland.
Donald Lynn Purdy of Coeur d'Alene passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 3, of an extended illness. He was born on May 25, 1918, in Eureka, Mont., to Lynn and Jessie (Crowley) Purdy. He graduated from Eureka High School and attended the University of Montana and Montana State University.
Serving our country in the Air Corps during World War II, Donald was sent overseas and flew 55 missions as a gunner on a B-26 Marauder. He was shot down and captured by the enemy as a POW. He earned multiple purple hearts and a POW medal.
After the war he settled in Spokane and met Martha Cabbage, They dated, got engaged and enjoyed a June wedding. They dreamed of a large family and their own business, so the young couple moved to Coeur d'Alene and started their own grocery store, as they brought into this world their four children. Donald sold the store in 1954, and drove for Wonder Bread for 29 years.
Donald enjoyed any time spent with his children, especially building a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene with them and his friends. He loved to swim and water ski -- he taught everyone he knew how to ski. This included his sister-in-law Marie, who he failed to tell to stand up after she was out of the water. We all still get a good laugh out of that!
He enjoyed attending his children's activities and having their friends visit him at his house and the lake cabin. After his retirement from Wonder Bread, he was always willing to help family and friends with their projects.
Dad was a wonderful father, husband and friend. He was always playing pranks and making us laugh. Dad always enjoyed our vacations back to the family farm in Eureka, haying with his dad, brothers, and nephews and nieces.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha; his daughters, Janice and Susan of Coeur d'Alene; his sons, Don (Wendy) of Portland, Ore. and Dennis of Dalton Gardens; his grandchildren, Emily (Todd) Johnson of Portland, and Jay Purdy of San Francisco; and great-granddaughter Addison Johnson of Portland.
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