John was born March 18, 1919 in Chicago to the late John and Bessie (Rosenbarski) Purtell. He served in the US army for four and a half years during W.W.II. Following the war John married Christine Jenko on June 23, 1956 in Chicago. He was employed in Chicago until retiring in 1981 and moving to Round Lake, John was a great fisherman and enjoyed playing cards. He was a member of the Suring American Legion Post # 283. Survivors include his wife Christine of Round Lake; one daughter, Karen Newhouse of Norridge IL; two sons, Edward (Kay) Lick of Roseville, CA; and Roger (Kay) Lick of Des Plaines, IL; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by by his parents, a sister, Josephine Kestain, and his son -in-law Howard Newhouse.
The family received friends and relatives Thursday October 14, 1999 from 1:00 p.m. until Memorial Service 1:30 p.m. at Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring with Sister Karen Vollmer officiating. A memorial has been established with Unity Hospice.