Donald Perry

Donald M. Perry, 85, Decatur, died Sunday, November 13, 2011, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Donald was born August 5, 1926 in rural southwest Shelby County, between Pana and Oconee, to William Ray and Elsie Hill Perry. He attended grade school at Mount Pleasant and graduated from Oconee Grade School. He attended high school at Oconee and Pana and graduated from Wilmington, IL. A proud veteran of the U.S. Army, Donald honorably served as a combat infantryman in the European theater of operations. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns as well as an Army of Occupation medal with Germany clasp, a Combat Infantry badge, American Campaign medal, and European-African-Middle Easter Campaign medal. He completed his basic training at Fort Hood, TX in the fall of 1944. His training was shortened because of the Battle of the Bulge, and he was sent overseas in January of 1945, was discharged in June 1946, and later served four years in the Navy Reserves. Donald moved to Decatur in August 1946 to attend Brown's Business College and later attended Millikin University. He met Isabelle McCormick on November 17, 1946, and they married 17 months later on April 17, 1948. Original members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Donald was an active member, serving as an usher for many years, and was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was employed for 38 years at A.W. Cash Valve Manufacturing Corp, retiring in 1993 as Vice President of Administration. During his retirement, he was active as a volunteer for Cancer Care, Dove, Catholic Charities, and Meals on Wheels. He was also a VA courier and a member of the Golden K. He enjoyed spending time with his family and was a great admirer and self-taught historian of Abraham Lincoln. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Isabelle, six children: Dianne Ford (Jay Ambrosini) of Decatur, Teresa (Frank) Milburn of Seattle, WA, Elizabeth Matters of Minneapolis, MN, Joseph (Janet) Perry of Decatur, Christine Perry of Washington, IN, and Corrine (Mike) McClanahan of Cottonwood, AZ. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Amy (Josh) Tell, Jason (Patti) Themer, Kevin (Natalie) Perry, Drew and Reed Matters, Megan (Denton) McAlister, David Milburn, Joel (Kate) Melby, and Hannah Melby; and five great grandchildren: Kayla, Kenna, and Kassie Themer, Landon Perry, and Jackson McAlister; sister, Mary Louise Syfert of Medford, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Joseph Perry, a sister, Evelyn Perry, one daughter, Ann Marie Perry, and one great granddaughter, Madelyn McAlister. The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Rev. Richard Weltin celebrant. Burial with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard will be in Graceland Cemetery. The Perry family is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, honored provider of Veterans Funeral Care, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526. Online memories and condolences can be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.