Bremen Enquirer (Bremen, IN), 26 Feb 1997

Theodore W. Purschwitz, 79, of 518 W. Poplar Dr., Bremen, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997 at 12:58 a.m. at the Community Hospital of Bremen following a lengthy illness. Theodore was the son of F.W. Henry Purschwitz and Anna Rau Purschwitz, and was born March 8, 1917 near Upper Marlboro, Md. He received his education in Maryland schools. He was a builder of homes in the Washington D.C. area before joining the District of Columbia Fire Department. He retired as Battalion Fire Chief in 1969 with 27 years of service. He later joined the staff at Purdue University, West Lafayette, as a technician in the biochemistry department. On September 25, 1943 at Mt. Rainier, Md. he was united in marriage to Gertrude Koch, who survives. Also surviving are five daughters: Susan Koch of Nappanee, Jane Nielsen of Burnsville, Minn., Anne Ashe of Hillsdale, Mich., Ruth Meissen of Roscoe, Ill., and Cynthia Ross of Underhill, Vt., one son, Mark Purschwitz of Stoughton, Wis., one sister Lilly P. Krider of Upper Marlboro, Md, and eight grandchildren. Theodore was a WWII U.S. Army veteran serving with the 331st Infantry Division in Europe. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Bremen, Lutheran Laymen's League, the Concordia Seminary Support Group and the Bremen Kiwanis Club. Theodore and his wife Gertrude moved to Bremen in 1980 from West Lafayette, Ind. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Bremen with Pastor Roger E. Rohde of the church officiating. Burial followed at Bremen Cemetery. Military services will precede interment in the cemetery. Visitation was held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24 at Mishler Funeral Home of Bremen and one hour before services in the church on Tuesday. The family requests memorial contributions be given to St. Paul's Church organ fund, Community Hospital of Bremen, and American Red Cross, Ft. Wayne region.