Bruce Harvey Perry was born September 1, 1940 to Harvey and Marlys Perry of New Brighton.
He grew up on a pig farm with his siblings Bill (Perry) and Jeanne (Ranger) and loved telling
stories of learning to drive at the age of 7 in the big garbage truck as they did rounds for the
pigs. He was too little to lift the garbage cans into the truck, but his dad figured out if they moved
the seat up tight to the wheel Bruce's legs were just long enough to reach the pedals, so he
navigated down the alleys as his dad and the farm workers loaded the rubbish into the truck. He
went to Mounds View High School and was an all around athlete--excelling in football, baseball,
and hockey and was voted "Peppiest" by his senior class. It was in high school that he met
Marjorie Hill who asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance shortly after moving to town. The pair
never separated from that point on, marrying in 1960 and living in St. Paul as Bruce played
football at the University of St. Thomas. Before long, he moved from being the center of a
football team to being the center of his family. Bruce and Marj spent summers in Oklahoma as
he earned his masters degree in mathematics and it was during that time that they welcomed
daughters Ann (Lindsey), Carol (& Rod Mendenhall), and Karen (Moroz). Bruce made being the
center of this family his priority and always did so in a way that appeared "easy," letting the girls
"help" as he finished the basement in their Andover home, bringing baby sheep in during cold
nights under the guise of them needing to get warm when in reality it was so his daughters
could see them, and welcoming his girls to sit with the cheerleaders or stand on the sidelines
with him as he coached wrestling and football, first at Irondale and then Mounds View. It wasn't
just his family he was committed to, though. His students loved him and affectionately called
him Mad Dog Perry after noting his resemblance to wrestler Mad Dog Vochon--he often played
this up for them by removing his fake teeth and striking a pro wrestling stance!! In his long
teaching career, he also created strong friendships with colleagues--bringing farm fresh eggs to
the teachers' lounge, taking math department ice fishing trips and serving as head chef on
summer fishing trips with teaching buddies. As the years passed Bruce and Marj welcomed four
grandchildren Alec (& Madison Culin), Katn, Ella, and Ava, and he continued to serve as the
center for the expanded family, patiently letting the grandkids help on the farm and in the
greenhouse, making breakfasts from scratch with the kids sitting on the counter serving as
assistants, putting them on the truck's center console and rockin' out to Rockin' Robin on the
way to cut Christmas trees, and always being there for music and sport performances. Even as
he started to struggle with mobility issues, he'd find a way--making sure he was able to be there
for his kids and grandkids, and even though dementia became a reality in the last several years,
his ability to continue to be the center of his family's world didn't falter. The number of laughs
and the amount of love he provided, even in his final months, were treasured by many and will
sustain us as we continue to celebrate a life very well lived! The family would like to thank the
staff at The Homestead, Walker Methodist, and Mercy Hospital for caring for Bruce and
recognizing, even through his health struggles, his wonderful personality. A service in memory
of Bruce Perry will be held Tuesday October 26 at Thurston Lindberg Funeral Home (2005
Branch Avenue, Anoka). From 10:00-11:00 there will be a time to enjoy some of Bruce's favorite
sweet treats and visit with family. After an 11:00 service, the family will proceed to a private
burial. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made as they are establishing a
scholarship in Bruce's name to be given to a Mounds View School District athlete intending to
teach.