Jack Perko

Jack Perko, aged 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 10, 2026, in Muskegon, Michigan.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the only son of Edward and Mary Perko, and older brother to his dear sister Pam Meyer (Gary Cannon). He is survived by Martha Perko, his wife of 60 years. Jack will be remembered for his strength, selfless compassion, clever wit, and boundless trivia knowledge. Jack's focus on family began at an early age and laid a lasting foundation for his children and grandchildren to follow. He was father to two daughters: Laura (Ron) Rampersad, and Joy (Brian) Demsey. His greatest treasures were his five grandchildren: Olivia (Will Breen), Ian, and Mariela Rampersad; and Leah and Felix Demsey. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Jack was the first in his family to attend college and received a degree in Chemistry from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. He was a chemist, manufacturing engineer, an inventor with multiple patents and business owner, starting first a fiberglass pultrusion business and then as part of a consulting group where he chartered the new frontier of computer simulation to optimize manufacturing line workflows. Jack leveraged his out-of-the-box thinking to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and increase the output of manufacturing lines across the country. The sale of his first business Pulastix to Nohl Industries took the family to Wisconsin, where he continued his work in fiberglass before switching careers to consulting. In Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Jack and Martha quickly grew a new, strong base of friends and "family" and embarked on new hobbies and passions.

Jack strongly believed life was a gift meant to be enjoyed. In Wisconsin, he discovered his love of autocross racing in his refurbished 1979 Mazda Rx7. He converted his love of boating from waterskiing behind powerboats to sailing. He loved the community that came with boating, hanging on the docks "shooting the breeze." He raced his final sailboat "Firewater" on both sides of Lake Michigan. Jack also had a lifelong love of baseball and professional sports, faithfully watching the Detroit Tigers, but quietly always pulling for the underdogs (Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers and the Purdue Boilermakers).

Upon Martha's retirement, they moved to Spring Lake, Michigan to remain near deep water but closer to grandkids. He was often found on the sidelines of his grandkids' sporting events and in the stands for Hope College Football. Time at the family cottage on Bostwick Lake was also a sacred space for him and Martha to enjoy a family meal, sip a glass of wine, relish a stunning sunset and play euchre late into the evening.

In his spare time, he volunteered and formed a community of friends at PET, where he used his skillset to volunteer to produce hand-cranked carts for amputees in third-world countries. He also found a strong support group at the Grand Haven YMCA where he "Pedaled for Parkinsons," a regular routine that staved off the symptoms of his illness and strengthened him to enjoy life as best he could. He was also a member of the C3 Community where he served on the Gold Team.

Jack leaves a legacy of perseverance, optimism and quiet strength through struggle that will honor him through the lessons he shared with family and everyone who knew him.

You can honor Jack's memory and passion for giving back and lifting those in need by donating to a cause of your choice or to one of his favorites:

Mobility Worldwide (formerly PET) or Harbor Hospice's Leila and Cyrus Poppen Residence.

The family is being served by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services.