Anna A Purcell

Anna Antonia Oblak Purcell (Annie)

Ann took a final walk for a cup of coffee at the big cafe in the sky on 11/4/2025.  She was truly a unique, pretty damn happy, strong woman.

Ann was born on 09/12/1925 to Mary (Henigman) and Anton Oblak, first generation immigrants residing in the Gary-New Duluth neighborhood in Duluth, MN.  With scant formal education she set off to Milwaukee during WWII and cared for a relative’s children, returned to Duluth a few years later and worked at various positions.  Ann met/married Robert Edward Purcell 07/19/1948; they eventually spawned eight crazy children that probably drove her nuttier than she already was after being married to our dad.  One of the greatest gifts she gave her children was the love of reading. No one recited a better version of “The Wreck of the Hesperus” than Ann, you would hear the wind blowing.

After about 25 years of marriage, she divorced and moved forward to outside employment.  She bust loose her domestic chains at the age of 50 and enjoyed beer, music and dancing, voicing her opinion at various bars in the area before she slowed down around age 95.

Ann never learned to drive because she had plenty of chauffeurs named Purcell, she would jump in a car and go anywhere, anytime.  She probably was acquainted with many of the DTA drivers as she boarded a bus every day up until the age of 95; she was a familiar sight at the mall and downtown vendors. Ann was all in on Las Vegas, traveling there numerous times with family, she enjoyed the sights and her favorite pastimes: people watching and dining out.

Ann additionally was a tap dancer, a song writer, made a good pot of calico beans, was quite artistic, frequently offered plenty of questionable advice to all of her children and felt she was a pretty good interior designer. Ann was also a linguist’s nightmare with pronunciation. OMG, we will miss her.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings (Edward, Marion, Francis, Virginia, John and James); her ex-husband Robert, her granddaughter Kelly Purcell. She is survived by her children Michael (Silvia), Patrick, Terrance (Cindy), Sandra, Kevin (Jody), Jeffrey (Cathy), Susan Turk (Gutch), Timothy (Elizabeth); her grandchildren: Justin, Holly, Erin, Katie, Emily, Ryan; great grandchildren: Caitlin, Ava, Wylan, Jackson, Clark, Olivia, Cameron, and one forthcoming Thanksgiving baby.

We want to sincerely thank both the wonderful staff at Afterno Home and Essentia hospice for making her final days here as peaceful and pleasant as possible.

There will be no service per Ann’s wishes; the family is planning an event to honor her at some point in the future.  Until then, HOWDY!