Jerry Perrigan

There was no one who met Jerry Perrigan and wasn’t immediately treated like a longtime friend. Whether it was his excited greeting of, “Hey, Brother!” or his warm smile coupled with his contagious zest for life there was simply no one like him. He was a devoted husband who adored his wife, and life only came full circle when he became a father to his son, Tyler. Jerry was a hard working man, but he knew how to play hard, too, and throughout his life he experienced some of the most amazing things. He was a no frills, man’s man whose strength, courage, and integrity were an inspiration to everyone he met. Although he was taken from his friends and loved ones too soon, his vibrant, adventurous, and compassionate spirit will live on in the hearts and lives of all who were within his reach.

The 1960s were a time to remember and filled with numerous noteworthy events. We elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States, only to mourn his death a short time later, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought civil rights to the forefront in the name of peace. As the decade drew to a close it was America that was victorious in the space race as we put the first man on the moon. It seems only fitting that Jerry’s journey began during this time as it was on October 6, 1967, that his parents, Wayne and Sue Perrigan, were so proud to announce the birth of the son they named Jerry Wayne in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in the family home in nearby Warren alongside his five siblings, Tina, Robin, Kristal, Deonza, and Julie, and experienced an upbringing that was a reflection of his generation. Jerry’s father was a truck driver while his mother was a busy homemaker.

Right from the start people were just naturally drawn to Jerry. He made numerous friends wherever he went, and they were often his partners in crime. Jerry loved spending time in Virginia, and there was the time that while there he and his buddies were spending some time out in the woods and happened to come upon a huge wasp nest. Although he was initially more stunned that his friend swore when he yelled, “move your ass,” he soon registered what was happening as the wasps came swarming out by the thousands after his friend had hit the nest. Each of the guys were stung at least 10 times as they ran as fast as they could out of the woods. Jerry loved football almost as much as he did being outdoors. White water rafting and trap shooting were among his hobbies. Jerry always had an interest in mechanics and plumbling, too. He attended Fitzgerald High School in Warren, and later earned numerous trade school degrees.

New and exciting changes were in store for Jerry when he met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Kim, and they met at her 23rd birthday party at Mr. Sports Bar. Sparks flew right from the start, and it wasn’t long before the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Jerry and Kim were married on September 18,1993 at Mt. Hope Church in Livonia. He treasured his wife, but his life came full circle on June 26, 2003, the day he adopted their son, Tyler. Jerry was an excellent role model for his son, and he was greatly intentional in guiding him to be a young man of integrity who was strong, responsible, and respectable. Jerry never missed an opportunity to tell his family that he loved them, and he was respectful of his family as well. Their many dogs were like additional members of the family, and he became very attached to his little Yorkie, Vader.

With his education behind him, Jerry made a career in the plumbing industry that spanned more than 25 years. His work included numerous jobs in the Detroit Metro area and took him all the way to Las Vegas. He took great pride in working hard to provide a comfortable lifestyle for his family.

Throughout his life Jerry was a man of many interests who was rarely still. As a lifetime member of the NRA, he was an avid hunter who especially loved hunting bear. A highlight was when he shot his big black bear in Canada. There was also the time that Jerry was sitting in a sapling eating a Snickers bar, only to have a bear stick his nose right into the bush so close to Jerry that he could have hit him right in the nose! It was hands down one of the funniest and scariest times that he ever had hunting. Jerry also enjoyed fishing, shooting, and mushroom hunting. In 2005 they took an amazing trip to Alaska where they saw the splendor of Mt. McKinley. As his family and friends can attest, Jerry was the biggest New England Patriots fan around. With his own unique sense of humor, it comes as no surprise that Cheers and The Big Bang Theory were a couple of his favorite shows. When relaxing with a book, it was always somehow related to hunting or guns. Jerry looked forward to future trips to Hawaii and Yellowstone with his son.

All who knew Jerry Perrigan would agree that he was a blessing to know and love. He lived life to the fullest each day and never took even one thing for granted. A more loving husband and father would be hard to find, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his loved ones. Jerry leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his family and friends will forever cherish.

Jerry Perrigan died on March 9, 2015. Jerry’s family includes his wife, Kim; son, Tyler; mother, Sue; siblings, Tina, Robin, Kristal (Scott), Deonza (Don) and Julie. Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Wayne. Visit with Jerry’s family and friends on Thursday, 2-9 p.m. with a Funeral Service at 4 p.m. at our Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home 30200 Five Mile (Between Middlebelt and Merriman). You may share a memory, upload a photo and sign the guest book at www.TurowskiLifeStory.com