Virgilene E. (Baker) Purchase

Virgilene E. Purchase, age 89 of Grand Haven, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at a local care facility. She was born on January 19, 1935, in Grand Rapids, MI to Howard and Dorothy (Nelson) Baker. Virgilene married Richard Purchase on November 5, 1955, in Big Rapids, MI, and he preceded her in death on July 27, 2009, after 53 years of marriage.  

Virgilene was a graduate of Coopersville High School and was a longtime resident of Grand Haven. She was the owner and operator of her own hair salon for 40 years, and for 17 years was co-owner of Pine Acres Campground in Mio, MI.

Throughout the years, she enjoyed sewing, cooking, reading, watching western movies, and traveling to all the 50 states. Most of all, she was a wonderful homemaker for all her family.

Virgilene will be loving missed by her four daughters: Diane (Bill) Szabo, Sandy (Ken) Sharkey, Holly (Danny) Gomez, Alyce (Jim) Sherman; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two sisters, Katie (Jerry) Rushmore, Joyce Freiberg; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Richard, she was preceded in death by her son, Wayne; granddaughter, Angela Szabo; and four siblings: Kenneth Baker, Ferris Baker, Howard E. Baker, Jr., and Jackwyn Miller.

A Memorial Service for Virgilene and her son, Wayne will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024, at Klaassen Family Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Bytwerk officiating. The Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Robinson Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to a charity of donor choice.

** The Memorial Service for Virgilene & Wayne will be live streamed beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024. Please click here to view: https://youtube.com/live/TJl96y_8OJU?feature=share

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virgilene E. (Baker) Purchase, please visit our floral store.