Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Alumni

Photo of Tim Purcell

Dawn (Krueger) and I will celebrate our 32nd anniversary on May 29 of this year. Next to Christ saving me, marrying her is still the best thing that has ever happened to me! We have four sons, Jonathan (JT), who graduated from OKWU in 2005,is married to Jill (Hurkes) and they live in Olathe, Kansas where he is employed by Solutions Bank. Mark, who graduated from OKWU in 2007, also lives in Olathe, KS and is employed by Security Saving Bank. Ben (16) is a sophomore in high school. Luke (13) is a seventh grader. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous that people our age have a 13-year-old. Both of our younger boys have followed in their big brothers’ steps in their love of basketball. Dawn and I continue to nurse severe cases of “bleacher bottom”. I have been the senior pastor at the Wesleyan Church in Brookings, SD since 1991. Prior to that I was senior pastor at Strathavon (now Crossroads) Wesleyan in Rapid City, SD from 1979-1991. I have the privilege of pastoring an awesome church! It was founded in 1950 with a strong vision to reach people and that vision has never changed! The church has experienced consistent and steady growth throughout its 58-year history. Brookings is home to South Dakota State University, a NCAA Division I school with an enrollment of over 11,000 students. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a number of ways in our town, from playing pickup basketball to teaching leadership seminars for industrial leaders. I used to play pickup and city league basketball, but knee replacement surgery has eliminated that. Now I love to take long rides on my bike. Shenanigans? There was the time I was caught placing a sign in the lake drainpipe that said, “$50 fine for placing signs in the drainpipe.” What can I say? I love irony! I was caught and paid the $50 fine.