Perry J. Perez

Perry J. Perez, 65, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lost his hard-fought battle with cancer on December 23, 2025, at UIHC in Iowa City, Iowa, surrounded by his loving family. A visitation will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on Sunday December 28, 2025, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the funeral home. Inurnment to follow at Linwood Cemetery, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Perry was born November 8, 1960, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Augustine and Carol (Bates) Perez. He grew up in Cedar Rapids, attending Harrison Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and graduating from Kennedy High school in 1979. On May 11, 1991, Perry married Kristi (Derlein) Meyer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Through their marriage, Perry proudly gained another daughter, Jennifer, joining his two children, Christopher and Samantha, from his previous marriage to Marilyn Stockman.

Perry spent 43 years serving the City of Cedar Rapids, beginning his career in the Sanitation Department before moving to the Fire Department. He retired on June 30, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, loyalty, and hard work.

Perry truly knew how to enjoy life. For 34 straight years, he made annual trips to Eldora Speedway in Ohio for the famous World 100 dirt late model races – a tradition he looked forward to every year. He loved football, both watching it and coaching Metro Youth Football, and he found pure joy at Disney World in Florida. It was there that Perry combined his love for running and fun, completing many races through the parks. Never one to shy away from a challenge – four races in four days, a 5K, a 10K, a ½ marathon and full marathon, totaling 48.6 miles, appropriately named the Dopey Challenge – a feat that perfectly reflected his determination and his “a little crazy” spirit.

As much as Perry loved auto racing, football, marathons, and golf, nothing compared to the love he had for his seven grandchildren. Everything he did, he did with them in mind.

Perry is lovingly remembered by his parents, Augustine and Carol Perez; his wife Kristi, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; children: Jennifer (Andrew) Wagner of Lisbon, Iowa, Christopher (Tracy) Perez of Braselton, Georgia, and Samantha (Aryegh) Moskowitz of Marion, Iowa; grandchildren: Ethan, Collin, Eliana, Bailey, Eden, Keegan and Arabella. He is also survived by his siblings, Kelly Perez-Boots (Mike), Gary Perez (JoAnn), and Augustine Perez (Lisa), all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Perry was welcomed into heaven by his grandparents, Augustine and Josephine (Castillo) Perez, Walter and Ruth (Christenson) Bates, his aunt Mary Zinnecker, and uncles Lorenzo, Frank, Victor, and Paul Perez.

Memorials may made out to The Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation and sent to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department at 713 First Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 or online donations can also be made at www.crfirefoundation.org