Jerry Perry, 75

Jerry L. Perry, age, 75, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday March 7, 2016, at the Select Specialty Hospital in Battle Creek.
He was born Aug. 16, 1940, in LaGrange County, Ind., A son of the late Neal and Helen (Mecklenburg) Perry.
Jerry was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak and a 1958 graduate of Burr Oak High School, where he excelled in athletics.
He retired from Tube Fabricators in Burr Oak following many years of dedicated employment as a salesman. Before joining Tube Fabricators, he worked in sales at Formed Tubes Company in Sturgis.
Jerry was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga from August 1958-August 1961.
Jerry had a true passion for the outdoors and loved hunting, especially behind his hounds chasing raccoon or coyote. He will forever be remembered as “Bullfrog” by his many hunting companions. Jerry had hobbies and interests, but what he truly loved was time spent with his family. Gatherings at the lake will never be the same, as Jerry was always the captain of his pontoon and the chef of his Weber grill. The incredible turkeys he grilled every Fourth of July can never be duplicated.
He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 56 years, Sharon; a daughter, Kristine (Ken) Hart of Lilburn, Ga.; a son, Tom Perry of Burr Oak; three grandsons: Kyle and Kevin Hart and JD Perry; two sisters, Janet (Charlie Downing) Dannelley of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Vicki (Larry) Brueck of Centreville; two brothers, Doug Perry and Jim Perry, both of Burr Oak; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant brother: Robert Perry.
In accordance with Jerry’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A gathering of friends and family to share memories and celebrate and honor the life of Jerry Perry will take place during the Fourth of July holiday. Full military honors will be conferred by Capt. John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Specific times and dates will be announced at a later date, closer to the time of the celebration.
The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is honored and humbled to be entrusted with the arrangements.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Jerry’s memory consider University of Michigan Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.