Bernice V. Latuch

Bernice, age 100, passed away in her home in Owosso, Michigan on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Left to lovingly remember her are, one sister: Mildred Reiffer of Lakeview, 2 children: Tom (Angie) Purkiss of Grand Rapids and Judy Purkiss of Owosso, Grandchildren: Jacki Ward (Jon Sebeck) of New Haven, IN, Mason Purkiss and Jill Purkiss of Grand Rapids

She is preceded in death by her parents Wesley and Mabel (Spencer) Koch, her siblings Ken, Larry, Thelma, Leola, and Ruthie, her first husband Web Purkiss of 43 years and second Lewie Latuch of 13 years.

Bernice was born and raised on a small farm in Kingsley, MI. She trained to be a cadet nurse during WWII in Traverse City. She met and married the love of her life, Web Purkiss in Traverse City in 1946, just home from war. They soon moved to Grand Rapids for work where she continued her nursing career until 1983 taking time out to raise their 2 children. They traveled a lot together and enjoyed camping with the kids. They enjoyed boating and fishing in later years living on Lost Lake in Barryton and wintering in Haines City, FL in retirement until Web passed in 1989. Bernice married Lewie Latuch in 1992 in Haines City, FL and they both relinquished their northern homes and permanently located in FL until Lewie’s passing in 2005. Bernice continued to enjoy walking and biking around her mobile home park and gardening in her yard until 2020 when she moved in with her daughter, Judy in 2020 to live out the rest of her years in Owosso, MI.

As per her wishes, Bernice was cremated and will be interred at Rosedale Memorial Park in Standale, MI with her husband Web Purkiss. The family plans to gather in the spring for interment and a celebration of Bernice’s life.

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