George Allan Purvis

George Allan Purvis   30 March 1933 -- 30 September 2023

George Allan Purvis was born March 30, 1933 at home in a primitive farmhouse in rural Bent County Colorado. This part of Colorado along with parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico were part of the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression.

George lost his father, Francis, a week before his 9th birthday. He and his younger brother, Dave, were raised by their mother (Delma) and relatives.

He went to Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) and earned a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in 1954. He was drafted into the army after college where he served stateside.

He met Norma Henerberg in 1959 and they were married within 3 months. They had two girls while he went to graduate school in Fort Collins. He earned a Masters Degree in Food Science. During that time he and Norma had two daughters, Amy (Thurow) in 1960 and Beth (Mattfolk) in 1962.

He entered a PhD program at Ohio State but became disillusioned with the position and moved to a job at Gerber Products Company in Fremont, Michigan. 

While working at Gerber he and Norma had a son, Tom, in 1964 and then a daughter, Meg (Preston), in 1966.

Gerber sent George to Michigan State University where he earned a PhD in Food Science, specializing in Infant Nutrition, in 1969. His career was stellar. He  became a Corporate Vice President and the Director of Research.

When he left Gerber he did project work for a couple foreign governments and the US Agency for International Development.

After his retirement George and Norma bought a home in Palm Desert, CA where they spent winters, always returning to Fremont for the summer.

Norma died in November 2021 and George mourned her for the remainder of his life. He is survived by three daughters: Amy, Beth, and Meg and one son Tom and his four grandchildren: Alex and Sam Mattfolk, and Jane and Maria Thurow. His pride and joy in his last years were two great-grandsons, Brooks and Cole Mattfolk.

The Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at First Congregational Church of Fremont with Pastor Luke Schmalz officiating.  The celebration of life will follow at 2:30 PM on Sunday at the Stone Lodge.  Suggested Memorials:  The Fremont Area District Library, or TrueNorth Community Services.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

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