Ralph “Pete” Purcell, 88, Overland Park, KS, died Monday, March 8, 2010 at Saint Joseph Health Center. Family services will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association , American Heart Association , or the American Cancer Society . Pete was born December 18, 1921, in Kansas City, MO, and had traveled the world before returning to the Kansas City area in 1975. He had been the owner and president of CANMEXUS Corp., an international marketing consulting company for the produce industry. Pete is survived by his wife of 61 years, Yvonne Purcell, of the home; 5 daughters and their spouses: Janette and Bruce Ruder, Albuquerque, NM; Maureen Purcell and David Hustead, Overland Park, KS; Judy Purcell Pittman, Salt Lake City, UT; Andrea and Joe Pyle, Eudora, KS; Carrie and Paul Campi, Winsted, CT; a sister and her husband, Agnes and J.R. Thompson, Independence, MO; 11 grandchildren: Matt Mihic, Erin Sipe, Theresa Curtis, Jessica Pittman, Andrew, Jacqueline, Christina, Rachel, Chris, Jennifer, and Phillip Pyle; and 5 great grandchildren. Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com.
To read the original obituary, please go to: The Kansas City Star