Frances “Bibs” Purschke was born November 10, 1919 in Robertsville, MO; daughter of the late Jacob Gaasch and his wife, Frances Hanneken Gaasch. She passed away Monday, May 22, 2017 in Union at the age of 97 years. Frances Bibs was born just after WWI in Robertsville on the family farm. She was united in marriage to Robert Purschke in 1940 and was actively raising her family during WWII. During the war, Bibs worked in Rock Island, IL as a "Rosie the Riveter" building tanks for the war effort. In 1954, Bob and Bibs started Purschke Oil in Union; it is still family owned and operated in its original location. In the 1960's, she began working for the Missouri Department of Revenue administering the driver's examination in the St. Clair and Sullivan locations until retirement in 1992. Bibs was an active volunteer in her church and community. She volunteered at the Immaculate Conception School library from 1966 to 2013, she was a founding member of the Daughters of Isabella, she coached volleyball at IC in the 1960's and 70's, Bibs volunteered with the Union Food Pantry since its inception, coached softball in the 60's and 70's for the Union Softball Association. Bibs was also an avid tennis player and golfer. She participated in the Silver Games for more than two decades. She later volunteered at Vincent's Angels resale shop, spent time at the County Seat Senior Center, delivered meals on wheels and visited those at Sunset Health Care Center. Bibs participated in the Relay for Life until she was 90 and was also a volunteer driver for those needing transportation during their cancer treatments. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her son-in-law, Michael Ostrander and two grandsons, Tim and Lance Purschke. She is survived by two sons, Robert “Pete” Purschke and wife, Denise and Richard Purschke and wife, Barbara all of Union; one daughter: Lisa Ostrander of AZ; six grandchildren, Joe (Julie) Purschke, Brent (Rachel) Purschke, Christy (Jason) Machelett, Seth (Rebecca) Purschke, Emily Ostrander, and Hannah (Tajh) Venable; eleven great-grandchildren, Natasha, Maxwell, Cooper, Lillian, Lincoln, Ella, and Timmy Purschke, Macey and Ellis Machelett, Jackson Miller and Decker Venable; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at Immaculate Conception Church in Union with Rev. Joe Post officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Memorials may be given to IC School or the Bob and Bibs Purschke Scholarship through Union RXI Foundation. The Purschke family was served by the Oltmann Funeral Home in Union