Debra Garrow Purdue

Debra Garrow Purdue, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 30, 2025, at the age of 71. Her family is confident that she has found the sunniest spot in heaven, reconnected with loved ones and has asked about how she can help keep the place full of flowers. 

Deb was born and grew up in Freeport, the oldest of four girls to Joe Garrow and Geraldine Wescott, where she shared adventures and developed lifelong friendships. She lived in Washington D.C. in her early 20’s before returning to Freeport. Deb married Tom Pieper in 1974, and they had a son, Joe, and a daughter Dallas. Deb worked as a monitor technician at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin and after moving back to Freeport in 1985, she developed training materials used in hospitals. With the help of one of her sisters, she reconnected with a high school classmate, Jesse Purdue, and they were married in 1987. Deb and Jesse had two daughters, Amanda and Katlyn. They moved to Cedarville shortly after being married and she committed her life to being an outstanding wife and mom instilling love and caring in her kids. They enjoyed great music with numerous trips to Summerfest and other concerts. Deb also performed in shows at the Winneshiek Playhouse. 

When she was not chasing kids, correcting homework, and making the BEST apple crisp, she helped plan high school reunions, enjoyed a great book, grew the most beautiful flowers and spent time with her sisters and friends. As the kids grew up and grandkids arrived, Deb and Jesse loved spending time with them, taking walks through Cedarville and video calls with ones that lived a bit further away. She never turned down an opportunity to read them a book, help with a craft, or hear about their day at school. She was extremely creative and shared that through scrapbooking and making beautiful cards that her family still uses today. 

Deb had a smile that made an impact, a heart bigger than any room she was in, and a hug you would still feel the next day. She is survived by her husband Jesse, her sisters, Sue Dietmeier, Karen (Fred) Homan, Di Garrow and Barb (Leo) Guenther; her stepmother, Lil Garrow; her children Joe (Jennifer) Pieper of Waukesha, WI, Dallas (Tom) Elzen of Freeport, Amanda (Jim) Bawinkel of Pearl City, and Katlyn (Brandon) Gosch of Mapleton, IA. Grandchildren Hanna Rackow, Sydney Rackow, Gunnar, Shiloh, Braylyn, Breanna and Keegan; nieces and nephews, Mary Beth (Ben) Lacy, Marta (Paul) Kobernick, Andele (CJ) Hendrick, Leah (Ian) Schiltz, Lauren Homan, Jackie Jordan, Cole Guenther, Brooke Guenther, Chase Piper, Bailey Piper and her puppy Maddy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, Jesse and Marie, and her nephew, Dion Jordan. 

The family thanks those who tended to Mom and made her comfortable at Freeport Memorial, OSF St. Anthony’s and SSM Monroe Hospital. We will be celebrating Deb on Saturday, February 8th from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport, 504 N. Walnut Avenue, Freeport, IL, 61032. A private burial to follow at Cedarville Cemetery on a sunny hillside.