Frances "Bibs" Purschke

Frances "Bibs" Purschke, nee Gaasch, 97, Union, passed away Monday, May 22, 2017, in Union.

Bibs, daughter of the late Jacob Gaasch and wife Frances, nee Hanneken, was born Nov. 10, 1919, in Robertsville. Bibs was born just after World War I, in Robertsville, on the family farm. She was united in marriage to Robert Purschke in 1940, and was actively raising her family during World War II. During the war, Bibs worked in Rock Island, Ill., as a "Rosie the Riveter," building tanks for the war effort. In 1954, Bob and Bibs started Purschke Oil in Union. It is still family owned and operated in its original location. In the 1960s, she began working for the Missouri Department of Revenue, administering the driver's examination in the St. Clair and Sullivan locations, until retirement in 1992. Bibs was an active volunteer in her church and community. She volunteered at the Immaculate Conception School library, from 1966 to 2013, was a founding member of the Daughters of Isabella, and coached volleyball at Immaculate Conception in the 1960s and '70s. Bibs volunteered with the Union Food Pantry since its inception and coached softball in the 1960s and '70s for the Union Softball Association. Bibs also was an avid tennis player and golfer. She participated in the Silver Games for more than two decades. She later volunteered at Vincent's Angels resale shop, spent time at the County Seat Senior Center, delivered Meals on Wheels and visited those at Sunset Health Care Center. Bibs participated in the Relay for Life until she was 90, and also was a volunteer driver for those needing transportation during their cancer treatments.

She is survived by two sons, Robert "Pete" Purschke and wife Denise, and Richard Purschke and wife Barbara, all of Union; one daughter, Lisa Ostrander, Arizona state; six grandchildren, Joe (Julie) Purschke, Brent (Rachel) Purschke, Christy (Jason) Machelett, Seth (Rebecca) Purschke, Emily Ostrander and Hannah (Tajh) Venable; 11 great-grandchildren, Natasha, Maxwell, Cooper, Lillian, Lincoln, Ella and Timmy Purschke, Macey and Ellis Machelett, Jackson Miller and Decker Venable; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her son-in-law, Michael Ostrander; two grandsons, Tim and Lance Purschke; and her parents.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Union, with the Rev. Joe Post officiating.

Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Immaculate Conception School or the Bob and Bibs Purschke Scholarship through Union R-XI Foundation.

The Purschke family was served by Oltmann Funeral Home, Union.