Obituary of Dale Leonard Purnick

February 15th 1935 to September 1st 2016. Dale, our beloved hero! Dale went to have a steak and shrimp dinner with his LORD, in heavens mansion, on September 1st, 2016, age 81. Dale was raised on the west side of Medicine Lake MN. He graduated from Wayzata High School in 1953. He, while in high school, was in the Navy reserves as well. To beat Uncle Sam he joined the Navy in 1954. He proudly served our country for 2 years. He was a member of the Plymouth Fire department as rescue squad personnel. As a child he also had various paper routes. He met, and in 1963 married, the other half of the comedy team, Gloria Kay Hanson in Robbinsdale MN. They spent their time flying in Dale’s private air plane fly to weekend events. Some other things he participated in were weekend dances at ballrooms, playing cards, and entertaining friends. Dale and Gloria were blessed with their one and only daughter Wendy Kay in 1965. The Purnick’s made their one and only home a quaint little yellow house in Wayzata. He was active in his daughter’s life. He engaged her in early childhood gymnastics. He was everyone’s father at Girl Scout father daughter dances. He was Taxi service before and after Friday night roller skating events. He taught his daughter how to fish and later hunt deer. Dale made the world sparkle and shine with his custodial services for the Wayzata School district. He Drove Wayzata School aged children to a place they necessarily didn’t want to go. He drove ski jammers on Fridays as well. He worked side by side with Gloria, cleaning at Martinson’s clinic in Wayzata and Calvin Presbyterian church in Long Lake MN. He found the nuts and bolts of retired life working part time at the True Value Hardware store at the Wayzata Bay center. He enjoyed his work there. He respected and enjoyed our great outdoors. He hunted turkeys, ducks, deer, elk, and moose. He enjoyed fishing our great Northern Minnesota lakes. He made hunting trips to Colorado and Canada. He enjoyed and reloaded bullets and did other tasks as a weekend gun smith. He was a proud member of the Wayzata Legion post 118. He was also a member of the Delano Gun club. Besides being a country music fan, reading and watching court cases on TV were also ways in which he passed his time. This gentle man always had a little change in his pocket for students who needed lunch money: He was quick to offer rides to any friend or neighbor in need. Dale and Gloria then made the move to God’s country and made their new home in New Prague MN. There, Dale lived out his life watching the resident geese that surrounded the apartment complex and the everyday goings-on that a small town brings. He was quick to keep the nursing staff on their toes at the assisted living facility and care center. He welcomed the many visits from family, friends and the staff. He made many new friends and sought out their company as well. He had much grace towards the recent illness with cancer, and heart health issues. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Gloria Kay of New Prague, formerly from Wayzata and Robbinsdale; his daughter Wendy Kay: his four legged furry daughter April Joy; many wonderful loving supportive family and friends. He has joined his mother Silvia and father Anthony Purnick; Carlie Jean, Licorice, and other fury companions. Celebration of Life service will be held on September 22nd 2016 at 11AM at Calvin Presbyterian Church Long Lake MN and ceremony at Fort Snelling at 2 PM. Instead of flowers, memorials prefer to Calvin Presbyterian Church Long Lake MN.