Herbert “Herb” William Perry 07/20/1941 - 08/21/2025
Herbert William Perry “Herb” passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home on August 21,2025.
Herb was born in Chicago IL on July 20, 1941 and moved to Williams Bay WI when he was a teenager. He learned to love the water and drove his boat all around Geneva Lake after he passed the swim test that his father required. He graduated as one of 22 students at Williams Bay High School in 1959 and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he was a member of the Triangle Fraternity and obtained bachelor’s degrees in Business and Mechanical Engineering in 1964. He later received a master’s degree from Purdue University in Business.
During the summers, he would work for his parents at Rose Lane Lodge and Perry’s Pancake House. One summer, he met a girl at the local frozen custard drive-in and encouraged her to get a job as a maid/waitress at the lodge. On September 12, 1964 he married this former maid/waitress, Carol Peterson, and they moved to Kokomo IN where he started his career with Delco Radio/Delco Electronics/Delphi (a division of General Motors).
In Kokomo, he and Carol raised and is survived by 4 children; Cathy (Rich) Strysniewicz, Beth (Matt) Mason, Bill (Janice) Perry, and Kristi (Kyle) Wallace. The Perry family was very active in their church (St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church) where Herb served many leadership roles. He was also instrumental in the eventual creation of Christ Lutheran Church where he served as their first church council president. After building their family home in Ivy Hills, the neighborhood became an extension of the family where they made many friends and had a lot of fun together. The family began camping in the 70s and enjoyed many fun vacations in State and National parks across the US. He also enjoyed activities with the kids including coaching various sports teams, being involved in Indian Guides and Indian Princesses, attending many boy scout events including a 2 week hiking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and attending the kid’s various extracurricular activities. When he wasn’t at church, work or attending an event for one of his kids, he taught a business class at IUK, formed the University of Wisconsin Alumni Club in Kokomo, jogged, played in a ping pong league, started a men’s dinner bridge group and golfed at the Kokomo Country Club.
After working at Delphi for 36 years, Herb retired, and he and Carol moved to Tellico Village to live in a lake and golf course community in Vonore TN. While in TN, Herb continued his church activities as he again took leadership roles at their new church home, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maryville TN. Like in Ivy Hills, the community in Tellico Village became an extension of their family with many old and new friends. Together, they enjoyed golfing, boating, playing in men’s and couple’s golf leagues and playing bridge.
Herb loved being Pop Pop to 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; Elise (Hunter) Ryan and their son Kai, Em Strysniewicz, Justin Atkisson, Dillon Atkisson, Kyle Atkisson, Sarah Mason, Will Perry, and Megan Perry. One of his favorite activities was to show the grandkids how to shave as he put shaving cream on their faces and had them mimic him with their toy razors while he shaved off his beard. He and Carol also established a tradition of taking each grandchild on a special trip for their 13th birthday which produced many lasting memories for each of them.
A celebration of Herb’s life will be conducted at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 429 Sandy Springs Road, Maryville TN on Sunday August 24, 2025. The family will receive friends beginning at 1pm followed by the service at 2pm.
In leu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to in memory of Herb to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maryville TN which has been a big part of his life.
