Katherine Gertrude Purk

Katherine Gertrude Purk, 91, of Bowling Green, MO. died Friday, March 18, 2011 at Moore-Pike Nursing Home surrounded by her caring family. Funeral services for Mrs. Purk will be at St. Clement Catholic Church, 10 am Tuesday, March 22, 2011 with Fr. Bill Peckman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Clement Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm on Monday at Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green. Katherine was born February 13, 1920, the first born of four children to Conrad and Margaret Feldmann Oberdahlhoff. She was educated at Concord and Crow Schools in rural Pike County. During her teen years, she assisted young mothers with their newborns, often living in the home for several weeks. She later worked at the Elder garment factory in Bowling Green with her two sisters Dorothy and Mary Agnes. On November 29, 1947 she was united in marriage to Gerhard “Jack” Purk. They set up housekeeping on the Purk Farm located on Crow Lane near St. Clement. To this union were born two children; daughter Paulette Bruch (Joe) and son, Eddie Purk (Tammy) both of Bowling Green. They survive. Also surviving are five granddaughters, Amy Jo Biggs (Corey), Andrea Bruch of Bowling Green; Annette Bruch of West Lafayette, IN; Jennifer Purk, Ft. Smith, MT and Megan Purk, Kirksville, MO; one great-grandson Robert Mac Biggs; one brother, Richard Oberdahlhoff (Susie), Bowling Green; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Dorothy Purk and her husband, Herman; Mary Agnes Dixon and her husband Joe; brother-in-laws Clem and Frank Purk; sister-in-laws Rosaline Purk Lee (Robert) and Bettie Purk Mudd (Reginald); nephew Bob Dixon and a grandson, Matthew Purk. Katherine was known for her love of quilting. She was a charter member of the St. Clement Sewing Circle that has quilted every Wednesday afternoon since the 1960’s. She was also an early genealogist, researching both family history and parish history. This led her, in 1969, to organize the St. Clement Cemetery Association. She served as Secretary-Treasurer until the age of 85 when health prevented her from banking and meeting with families at the cemetery. Katherine enjoyed volunteering for the American Cancer Society and the Bowling Green High Rise where she resided for several years before entering the nursing home. She was well-known for her delicious angel food cakes and sugar cookies. Katherine made many friends by delivering fresh eggs, cream and butter to area residents. She was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church, St. Clement Homemakers Club and a card-playing group. On her 80th birthday, she began hemodialysis after being diagnosed with kidney disease. She referred to these three days per week treatments as her new “work”. Katherine continued dialysis for 11 years until the time of her death. She was most recently interviewed and photographed for a University of Missouri study entitled “The Experiences of Being on Dialysis Among the Elderly Population”. Pallbearers will be Don Dixon, Gary Purk, Rick Oberdahlhoff, Robert Lee, Charles Orf and Donnie McGaugh. Memorials may be made to the St. Clement Cemetery Association or the Dialysis Clinic, Inc. of Louisiana, MO in care of the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home.