Wanda Lou Mitchell
February 20, 1935 — September 11, 2016
Wanda Lou (Purkeypile) Mitchell of Eureka, died Sunday, September 11, 2016, at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, at the age of 81.
Wanda was born February 20, 1935 near Hamilton, Kansas, the daughter of Glad Eric and Myrtle May (Langton) Purkeypile. Wanda loved her family and the outdoor farm life. She helped her husband Clarence build a thriving Masonry Construction Business and Mitchlett Farms where they raised Registered Shorthorn Cattle and later Simmentals. They spent a great deal of time enjoying their cattle and ensuring their children had an active 4-H life growing up.
Wanda was an avid writer, best known for writing verses and poems on the side of Kleenex boxes or scraps of paper. Usually profound, sometimes funny, she was prolific. Her Grandchildren were her pride and joy. Many hours she would play with them and loved being called Grandma Tractor. She amazed her Grandchildren by her accuracy with a rifle and would shoot cans off the fence after most would miss.
Her fondest memories were of past times getting together at the family farm and enjoying her brothers and sisters; nieces and nephews who held a special place in her heart. As a young girl she would race her horse Trixie across the Eureka hills coming in at dusk. As the baby of a family with 10 brothers and sisters, she could recite the history of the Purkeypile family always so proud of her “esteemed” name as she would say.
She hated mice and we would laugh that while she was trying to kill them, her youngest daughter was secretly feeding them. Wanda was happiest outdoors and working in her yard. She loved a perfect green yard and could bring to life even the pitiful plant. Limestone rocks and pink/peach roses were her favorite.
Wanda is survived by one son, Clay Mitchell of Spivey, KS; daughters, Melissa and husband, Larry Dinsmore, of Wichita, KS; Jennifer Allemand, of El Dorado, KS; and Melinda and husband, Greg May of Leon, KS; 13 grandchildren: Joshua Mitchell; Clinton Mitchell; James and wife, Shelley Dinsmore; Joseph Dinsmore; Jonathan and wife, Robin Dinsmore; Jillian and husband, JB Norcott; Justin and wife, Tiffany Martens; Erica and husband, Jeff Short; Jacob May; Rebecca and husband, Dustin Rookstool; Rachel and husband, Grant Harder; Caleb Allemand; and Clarence Colton Allemand; 13 great-grandchildren: Allen and Alyssa Mitchell; Jonah, Silas, Eden, and Titus Dinsmore; Mason, Lakyn, Adelyn, and Bryson Rookstool; Lennon Norcott; Benjamin and Luke Short; faithful brother, Burl Purkeypile of Eureka; and treasured sister, Doris Segebartt of Genessee, Idaho. Wanda was preceded in death by Clarence, her husband of 61 years.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at the Eureka Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Francois Erasmus officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which was very dear to her heart. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is in charge of service arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online at koupfunerals.com.
Wanda was born February 20, 1935 near Hamilton, Kansas, the daughter of Glad Eric and Myrtle May (Langton) Purkeypile. Wanda loved her family and the outdoor farm life. She helped her husband Clarence build a thriving Masonry Construction Business and Mitchlett Farms where they raised Registered Shorthorn Cattle and later Simmentals. They spent a great deal of time enjoying their cattle and ensuring their children had an active 4-H life growing up.
Wanda was an avid writer, best known for writing verses and poems on the side of Kleenex boxes or scraps of paper. Usually profound, sometimes funny, she was prolific. Her Grandchildren were her pride and joy. Many hours she would play with them and loved being called Grandma Tractor. She amazed her Grandchildren by her accuracy with a rifle and would shoot cans off the fence after most would miss.
Her fondest memories were of past times getting together at the family farm and enjoying her brothers and sisters; nieces and nephews who held a special place in her heart. As a young girl she would race her horse Trixie across the Eureka hills coming in at dusk. As the baby of a family with 10 brothers and sisters, she could recite the history of the Purkeypile family always so proud of her “esteemed” name as she would say.
She hated mice and we would laugh that while she was trying to kill them, her youngest daughter was secretly feeding them. Wanda was happiest outdoors and working in her yard. She loved a perfect green yard and could bring to life even the pitiful plant. Limestone rocks and pink/peach roses were her favorite.
Wanda is survived by one son, Clay Mitchell of Spivey, KS; daughters, Melissa and husband, Larry Dinsmore, of Wichita, KS; Jennifer Allemand, of El Dorado, KS; and Melinda and husband, Greg May of Leon, KS; 13 grandchildren: Joshua Mitchell; Clinton Mitchell; James and wife, Shelley Dinsmore; Joseph Dinsmore; Jonathan and wife, Robin Dinsmore; Jillian and husband, JB Norcott; Justin and wife, Tiffany Martens; Erica and husband, Jeff Short; Jacob May; Rebecca and husband, Dustin Rookstool; Rachel and husband, Grant Harder; Caleb Allemand; and Clarence Colton Allemand; 13 great-grandchildren: Allen and Alyssa Mitchell; Jonah, Silas, Eden, and Titus Dinsmore; Mason, Lakyn, Adelyn, and Bryson Rookstool; Lennon Norcott; Benjamin and Luke Short; faithful brother, Burl Purkeypile of Eureka; and treasured sister, Doris Segebartt of Genessee, Idaho. Wanda was preceded in death by Clarence, her husband of 61 years.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at the Eureka Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Francois Erasmus officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which was very dear to her heart. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is in charge of service arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online at koupfunerals.com.
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