Wayne Allison Purk

Wayne Allison Purk, 84, of Cedar Falls, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025, following a battle with Parkinson's Disease.  He was born May 27, 1940, in Sheffield, Iowa, son of Carroll and Mavis (Swanson) Gerdes. Wayne's parents later divorced and he was adopted by Mavis' second husband, James Frank Purk. They moved from Northwood, Iowa, to Cedar Falls where he worked in the family's Supervalu grocery store. Upon graduation from Cedar Falls High School in 1958, he enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity, graduating with a BA degree in Business. Wayne married Bernetta 'Bea' Mae Jones on February 9, 1964, starting a family in Davenport and working for the Morton Salt and Heinz Ketchup companies. They moved to Cedar Falls in 1972 to help run the family's Howard Johnson Motor Lodge.  Wayne and Bea later divorced but remained friends. He was also a long-term member of Nazareth Lutheran Church, the Elks Club, and the AMVETS. He enjoyed being a dad, always attending his sons' sporting events and leading the local Boy Scout troop. He eventually became a general contractor building spec homes in Cedar Falls. A devoted Iowa Hawkeye fan, he attended the football games every year for decades, enjoying tailgating with family, close friends and new acquaintances. His other hobbies included RV road trips or touring on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle and restoring vintage Chevrolet automobiles.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved uncle, Lyle Swanson; his beloved grandparents, Edward and Helda Swanson; and many other family members and friends. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Jeffrey Wayne Purk of Norwalk and Steven (Maureen) Purk of Sacramento, California; 2 grandchildren, Owen and Jillian Purk; and a half-sister, Jean Edwards along with her daughter, Jennifer.

Wayne's Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday September 6, 2025 in Norwalk, Iowa, at his son's residence. He has been entombed in the Mausoleum at Garden of Memories in Waterloo.  Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Hospital.