MAURICE FRANCIS PERLL M.D.

Maurice Francis Perll, M.D., passed away January 6, 2012. A prayer service will be held Friday, January 13th at 9 a.m. at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main Street, Kansas City, MO, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Dr. Perll was born on October 17, 1918, in Fullerton, Nebraska, the son for Frank J. and Elizabeth Sanders Perll. He graduated from Fullerton High School in 1936. He received his M.D. degree from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, and served his internship at St. Mary's Hospital in KC, MO. His orthopaedic training was at Kansas University Medical School, Kansas City, KS. He was a member of the Missouri State; Metropolitan Medical; Greater Kansas City and Mid-Central Orthopaedic societies, as well as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He served on the staffs of St. Mary's Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, Research Hospital, and Baptist Hospital. With late partner, Donald Kirk Piper, M.D., established the first Orthopaedic practice in the Kansas City area, Perll, Piper Inc. After retirement from private practice, he served as Regional Orthopedic Consultant for the United States Department of Health and Human Services until 2000. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy aboard a ship in the South Pacific in WWII and with the 3rd Marine Division during the Korean War. He was a Perpetual Member of the Rockhurst Honorary Directors; an Honorary Member of the Jesuit Honor Society Alpha Sigma Nu and Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Rita Dobel Perll, M.D.; a son, Christopher T. Perll, a daughter, Maurita R. Hohman, and brother Leonard Perll. He is survived by six children; Michael Perll (Gale), Patrick Perll (Mary), Moira Niemeier (Bob), Bridget Cotter (Kirby), Peter Perll (Valine), Casey Oneslager (Richard); a son-in-law, Richard Hohman and daughter-in-law, Carol Perll; as well as thirty-one grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Beloved father, grandfather, and friend. He was a man of great faith, and lived it by example; a moral compass and anchor for all those who knew him, he will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. K.C. Regional Development Office, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed. Road, Kansas City, MO 64138. Condolences may be left for the family at www.muehlebachchapel.com. Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, MO 64131, (816)444-2060