JOHN FRANCIS PERRY

1923 - 2015

JOHN FRANCIS PERRY McALLEN - John Francis Perry, the son of Thomas and Edith (Holland) Perry, was born August 7, 1923, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and departed this life at the Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen, Texas, on June 3, 2015, at the age of ninety-one. He came to the United States with his father and mother in October 1923 and lived in California. In 1931 he moved with his mother to the Conneaut, Ohio area. He received his education in the Mill Creek (near Erie, Pennsylvania) and Conneaut, Ohio, school systems and graduated from Conneaut High School in 1942. John served in the United States Air Force from 1943 to 1945 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber that was shot down on his fourth bombing mission over Germany, and he was a prisoner of war from March 23, 1944, until April 24, 1945. He was a member of the Rio Grande Valley American Ex-Prisoners of War and served as commander and chaplain of the chapter. After he fulfilled his commitment to the Air Force, John attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri, and graduated with a BA in May 1950. He was united in marriage to Rachel Farley on May 28, 1950, in Wichita, Kansas. He was ordained as an Assemblies of God minister in 1952 and served as a pastor for twenty-five years at churches in Jetmore, Elwood, and Wellsville, Kansas, and Eldora, Hamburg, and Truesdale, Iowa. In 1977, he graduated from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, with a BA in history. He and Mrs. Perry taught at Christian schools in Independence and Burlington, Iowa; Freeport, Illinois; Sanford, Florida; Laredo and Roma, Texas; and Miguel Aleman, Mexico, for almost thirty years. They retired from teaching in 2004. John received the Lord Jesus into his life when, at age sixteen, he went to church with a friend, Charles Lamson. His commitment to Christ led him into ministry as a pastor and a teacher, and he gave Christian guidance and encouragement to many, often in very practical ways. He was a member of the First Assembly of God in McAllen. After he and Mrs. Perry retired, they did hospital visitation for the church and also helped lead weekly church services at the Heritage Assisted Living Center. He is survived by one daughter, Sharon (Kenneth) Holmgren of St. Paul, Minnesota; one son, Forrest (Judy) of McAllen; four grandchildren, Paul (Rose) Holmgren and Samuel (Josie) Holmgren of St. Paul, Minnesota, Rachel (Jonathan) Larson of Lakeville, Minnesota, Phil (Barb) Perry of Sheridan, Wyoming; eleven great-grandchildren and ten nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel; his son Roy; his parents; and his adopted brother, Charles Lamson. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015 from 5pm – 9pm with a 7pm prayer service at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Funeral service will be held at 1pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at First Assembly of God in McAllen. Burial will follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Contributions may be made to First Assembly of God Church in McAllen or to Frontier Ministries. Checks for Frontier Ministries may be made payable to: Ken Holmgren 523 La Fond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55013. Services are under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home of Mission. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries