James Eugene Purvis

He grew up enjoying farm life and playing high school sports in Lamberton, Minnesota. After high school, he headed to Montana for a brief adventure in ranching before being drafted into the Army, serving most of his tour in Germany.

His post-military life included working in the railroad industry for a short time before being hired as an Airline Agent by United Airlines. He started out in Chicago, IL, where he met and married his first wife, Barbara. He transferred to Grand Rapids, MI, where they raised their children, James and Dawn.

After the marriage ended, he moved Los Angeles, CA, and in 1980 he transferred again, this time to Phoenix, AZ, where he met Kathy Dove. They married in 1982, and spent 35 happy years together traveling the world and visiting friends around the U.S.

Jim retired in 1995 after 34 years with United. During his retirement years he continued to enjoy traveling as well as entertaining and cooking for friends, golfing, telling bad jokes and tall fish tales, and escaping the Arizona summer heat at their cabin in Minnesota.

Jim entered into rest January 1, 2018, joining his parents and his sister, Judy Steffen. He is survived by his wife and children, brother Ron & Ron’s wife Chris Behringer, mother-in-law Elaine Dove, sisters/brothers-in-law Nancy & Keith Minkel, Mary & Vaughn VerSteegt, Jerry & Mary Dove, and Don Steffen. He also leaves behind grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces/nephews and their families, and many dear friends.