Felix Anthony Perry

Felix Anthony Perry Born April 8, 1919 in Minneapolis. Died Dec. 29, 2020, at age 101. Barbara, his wife of 77 years, survived him by two days. Survived by sons, Philip (Darla) of Athens OH, and Richard of Bloomington; daughter, Joanne (David) Cosgrove of Bloomington; daughter-in-law, Linda (Michael) Perry of Roseville; grandsons, Andrew (Margaret) Cosgrove, Benjamin (Elissa) Cosgrove, Anthony (Astrid) Perry, and Nicholas Perry; great-grandsons, Ansel, Bjorn, & Benjamin Cosgrove, & Aiden Felix Perry; and great-granddaughter, Elouise Cosgrove. Preceded in death by sons, Stephen and Michael. Graduated from Minneapolis John Marshall High School and bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1942. Employed as an engineering manager of aircraft structures and interior accommodations by Northwest Airlines for 48 years (1942-1991) on all aircraft from the DC-3 to the AirBus A330, with two years intervening as an Officer in the Naval Air Transport Service during WWII. Enjoyed interfaces with all airline personnel levels, from mechanics to top management & industry-wide. Qualified as an FAA Private Pilot. Was fond of communicating on all subjects in print with weekly e-mails to his grandchildren, with copies to children and friends, and with occasional “letters to Editors.” Enjoyed tennis with the Senior Tennis Players Club, golf (Hawaii many times), in-line skating (especially around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis), biking, downhill skiing (especially in the Alps and western U.S.), cross-country skiing, swimming and diving, walking, kindergarten volunteering and non-fiction book & periodical reading. Enjoyed many tri-generational family canoe/camping trips in the BWCAW wilderness. Favorite activity into their 90’s was supper club dancing with his wife to all rhythms, especially Latin and swing. Active as a youth and as an adult in the Boy Scouts/Sea Scouts. Active member of Mayflower Church. Addicted to his home computer for many activities, including finances, letters/e-mails to friends, digital photography and an almost endless autobiography. Home handyman: yard, garden and extensive remodeling. Enjoyed world travel, especially Europe, and people. He lived in the same house with his family from 1948 to 2019, expanding it numerous times to accommodate his family’s needs. Delivering “one–liners” daily to passers-by was the norm on daily walks. Memorials to Boy Scout Troop 187 of Mayflower Church, The Arc Minnesota (formerly Mpls. Assoc. for Retarded Children ARC), Kenny Parent Foundation, and Wood Lake Nature Center of Richfield. A celebration of life is planned for summer. Share a memory at Washburn-McReavy.com/obituaries. I have sad news. Dad passed away on December 29, 2020, at age 101 and Mom passed away on December 31, 2020,- at age 98. It is hard to lose both parents so close together. We take comfort in the fact that both Mom and Dad would have been very lonely without their spouse and loving partner of 77 years. They were very happy together all those years. They will be buried in Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis. Mom and Dad’s health had seriously deteriorated the past few weeks. Mom never recovered from her stroke in October. Recently when Dad went to the hospital for a bladder infection he tested positive for COVID-19 which was one burden too much. They had been very healthy and active until a couple of years ago. In Jan. 2019 they moved into Village Shores senior apartments which they liked and where they could access more assistance when needed. The staff was very caring and very helpful. To share a memory please go to the Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels website at washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries. There will be no funeral at this time because of the coronavirus. We hope to have a celebration of Mom and Dad’s lives in the summer. We are planning to also have it online for people who cannot attend in person. We would appreciate comments and pictures to include in the celebration. Their obituaries will be published in the Minneapolis Star & Tribune. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of the organizations that Mom and Dad selected. We have many fond memories of Mom and Dad. The most recent was the last time they were together. On December 16th after Mom’s returned to Village Shores and before Dad went into the hospital Joanne brought Dad into Mom’s room. Dad read to Mom the Christmas cards they had received. They had a very enjoyable time reminiscing about their relatives and friends who sent them. Mom and Dad would send out around 100 Christmas cards every year. Dad made the card with family pictures. Mom would address and mail them. Family was very important to Mom and Dad. They wanted a big family so they had five of us: Philip, Michael, Joanne, Stephen, and Richard. We all participated on many activities and trips together. Activities included swimming at Lake Harriet, skiing at Buck Hill and in northern Wisconsin, camping, and canoeing in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. Mom also planned many activities around the house and neighborhood to keep us active kids occupied. Nearby Kenny Park was well used. Mom and Dad loved the house they lived in for 70 years. They had many parties at the house for family, friends, and neighbors. To keep his four grandsons and other relatives informed about family affairs and current events Dad would write and email his grandpa-gram most every week up to his last month of life. Mom and Dad loved to dance and often received compliments for their skill. They also loved to travel and took many trips within the United States and to foreign countries. This included Europe, Africa, Asia, Alaska, and Hawaii. The story of Dad’s life can be found in his detailed autobiography which he wrote and revised over many years. When we moved into the house on Irving Avenue there were then five of us. So immediately Dad stated finishing off the upstairs to provide more bedrooms. Over the years Dad had many house and yard projects which he mostly did himself with help from friends and neighbors and sometimes from us kids. Mom did the cooking and cleaning. But she also paid the bills and kept the calendar of activities. For years she had a League of Women’s Voter’s heavy duty paper calendar with lots of space to write down appointments, activities, and birthdays. And she filled up every available space. Mom made sure that none of us missed an important appointment. Mom had several sayings that she passed on to us: “If you can’t say something nice about someone don’t say anything at all” and “It could be worse”. About the worst thing she would say about someone was that a person was ”difficult”. Mom liked most of all having the entire family together for activities, events, birthdays, and holidays. We will miss Mom and Dad very much. Philip philperry@twc.com Joanne joannecosgrove@msn.com Richard richardp45@msn.com List of organizations that Felix and Barbara Perry suggested for donations in their honor. Felix and Barbara The Arc Minnesota – formerly the Minneapolis Association of Retarded Children (ARC). It supports people with intellectual and development disabilities. They were very active in the organization. 2446 University Ave. West, Suite 110, St. Paul, MN 55114 Website: arcminnesota.org Mayflower United Church of Christ (UCC) 106 E. Diamond Lake Rd., Minneapolis, MN 55419 Website: mayflowermpls.org Wood Lake Nature Center 6710 Lake Shore Dr., Richfield, MN 55423 Website: richfieldmn.gov/around_town_/wood_lake_nature_center The Kenny Parent Foundation (KPF) – Kenny School - Kenny is the elementary school their children attend and where they volunteered in the Kindergarten class. Kenny Parent Foundation c/o Kenny Community School, 5720 Emerson Ave., South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 Website: Kenny.mpls.k12.mn.us Barbara League of Women Voters of Minneapolis- Barbara was a member, volunteered, and then was an employee. PO Box 7570, Minneapolis, MN 55407 Website: lwvmpls.org Felix Boy Scout Troop 187 –Sponsored by Mayflower Church. Phil & Mike were active Scouts and Felix volunteered on the troop committee. c/o Mayflower UCC, 106 E. Diamond Lake Rd., Minneapolis, MN 55419 Website: troop187.org OR 187 Alumni Association, PO Box 19112, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Tributes

Felix Anthony Perry

April 8, 1919 - December 29, 2020

Tributes

Felix Anthony Perry

April 8, 1919 - December 29, 2020

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