Joseph Nicholas Perfetti

Joseph (Joe) Nicholas Perfetti, age 98, passed away peacefully at home in St. Anthony, MN on November 20, 2024.
Joe grew up in the Beltrami neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis. He had fond memories of early morning paper routes, hunting for mushrooms in the nearby quarry, and Ma's victory garden. He competed in golden glove boxing tournaments representing the Margaret Barry Settlement House gym and softball game rivalries between neighborhood boys.
Joe served in the United States Navy from 1944-1946, stationed off San Francisco Bay on Treasure Island, as a naval secretary typing discharge papers for departing World War II soldiers. Upon return, he pursued an accounting degree at Minneapolis Business College, where he found his true calling. He was an auditor at the National Accounting Firm and worked as a staff accountant for multiple businesses in Northeast Minneapolis. He secured a payroll administrator position in Greenland during the construction of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, working to earn enough for a down payment on his first family home.
He became a Certified Public Accountant and founded his accounting practice Perfetti & Oberg in 1990, retiring in 2022 at the age of 95. Joe treasured his clients and truly loved helping people and small businesses on the path to better financial security.
Joe was a devout Catholic, voracious reader, kept a fitness routine that would put most of us to shame, appreciated southwestern art, and was a connoisseur of red sauce. He enjoyed recounting stories of the old neighborhood and sharing his deep knowledge of Minneapolis with captivated audiences. He was a strong, independent, and remarkable person who will be greatly missed by family, friends, and colleagues.
He is preceded in death by son, John Perfetti; mother, Catherine Rotar (neé Iaquinto), father; Nicholas Perfetti; brothers, Arthur Perfetti and Louis Rotar; sisters, Angeline Konieczny, Josephine Sochko, Theresa Lavaque, and Louisa Varga.
He is survived by children, Michael (Carole) Perfetti, Mary (Gary) Roback, Nicholas (Amanda) Perfetti, Bryan Perfetti, Christina (Alex) Perfetti, Nathan Perfetti; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Perfetti.
Memorial Mass at St. Charles Borromeo, 2739 NE Stinson Blvd., Wednesday, December 4th at 11:30 AM with visitation one hour prior and a luncheon afterward. Interment at St. Anthony Cemetery. Family prefers memorials to Eastside Neighborhood Services.