Vada Purcell

Vada Lou (Hesler) Purcell of Piqua, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. She was born September 26, 1941 to Claude and Helen (Kraft) Hesler.

Vada married Leslie "Les" Shelby Purcell on April 12, 1959. To this union, Valerie, Velda, Vonda, Vickie, Vanessa, and George were born. Vada enjoyed working on the farm, raising animals, gardening, and flowering. Anyone that knew her knew she loved to cook. She shared the love of cooking in many restaurants. Vada and Les were known for their annual hog roast, which she enjoyed very much. She also had a catering and wedding cake business, where she spent many hours of preparation for each occasion. Vada worked as a greeter and tour guide for Nuway Campers, in Chanute. She also had the privilege of being a nurse aid at Allen County Hospital.

Vada is preceded in death by her parents; foster daughter, Connie Holman Duncan; great-granddaughter, Iris Brewer; brother, Keith Hesler; and niece, Angie Hesler.

She is survived by her husband, Les, of the home; daughters, Valerie Walker (David) of Piqua, Velda Brewer (Ronnie) of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, Vonda Smith of Elk City, Vickie German (Ron) of Neosho Falls, and Vanessa Driskill (Ronnie) of Yates Center; son, George Purcell (Gayla) of Piqua; son-in-law, David Duncan of Devon; grandkids, Shannon Walker, Evan and Eric Brewer, Wally and Delisa Olson, Lacee Olson Reed, Shelby Smith, Regan German Jacobs, Callie German Minor, Maggie German Lockhart, Akeela Thompson, Hugh Dale, and Travis Duncan; brother, Harold Hesler (Pat) of Wenatchee, Washington; nieces, Colleen Scanlon of Wenatchee, Washington and Claudette Gentry of Los Lunas, New Mexico; and sisters-in-law, Pat Atkin of Yates Center and Beverly Nittler of Council Grove. Cremation is planned and a celebration of life will be held on a later date. Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.