Jan Mark Purkat

Funeral Mass for Jan Mark Purkat, 60, of Gilbert, will be 10am Saturday in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn as celebrant. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7pm at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert and will continue for one hour prior to the mass at church on Saturday. Burial will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Jan died suddenly on Tuesday September 4, 2012 at the Virginia Regional Medical Center. He was born July 1, 1952 in Virginia, MN to Donald and Jane (Spohn) Purkat. Jan was a 1970 graduate of Gilbert High School and later attended the Eveleth Vocational School for auto mechanics. Jan served with the Minnesota National Guard for six years. On November 17, 1973 he married Patricia Novak in Gilbert, MN. Jan worked as a mechanic for Martin Chevrolet and later for Iron Trail Motors. Up until the time he left Iron Trail Motors, he was the union President for UAW. For the past 13 years he worked as a mechanic for the City of Gilbert. He also was the union President for the city workers in Gilbert until one year ago. Not only was he the mechanic, he did whatever he was needed to do. He truly was a dedicated employee who enjoyed his career. One of Jan's favorite pastimes was restoring collector vehicles. He was a member of the Dream Machines Car Club and MSRA. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren's basketball games and made himself available any time to his friends and family when they needed assistance. Survivors include his wife, Patsy; daughters, Jennifer Purkat of Duluth and Christina Purkat of Gilbert; grandsons, Devin and Keshaun Purkat-Durden; parents, Donald and Jane Purkat of McKinley; siblings, Daniel (Sheila) Purkat of New London, David Purkat of Gilbert, Jarad (Lori) Purkat of McKinley, Dennis (Lisa) Purkat of Gilbert, Michael Purkat of McKinley, JaNeen (Trice) Purkat of Minneapolis and Joe Purkat of Gilbert; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marge (Dan) Rozman of Spring Creek, Nev., Sue (Lloyd) Jones of Virginia, Bill (Vicki) Novak of Gilbert, Bob (Rosie) Novak of Lakeville and Mary (Ed) Lemke of Brooklyn Park. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.