Peter Perla

July 30, 2010

TRAVERSE CITY — Peter G. Perla, 96, passed away on July 30, 2010. The family is thankful that he died peacefully after nearly a year of declining health.Peter, "Pete," was born Nov. 29, 1913, in Hermansville to Nicholas and Lucille Perla. His parents came to the United States as teenagers from Austria-Hungary and he was one of eight children. Pete attended Kingsford High School in Kingsford and graduated from Michigan Tech University in Houghton with a degree in civil engineering, and a U.S. Army Reserve commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. In later years, he was pleased to be able to establish a scholarship fund at the university to assist deserving students with their education.He served four years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, including two years overseas in the European Theater as an Intelligence Staff Officer. Campaigns included Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. In 1966, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves after 28 years of active and reserve service. He was a lifetime member of the Bowen-Holliday Post #35 of the American Legion in Traverse City, Michigan.His professional career began in Kingsford as a civil engineer for the village. He later became an assistant city engineer in Traverse City. In 1957, he entered private practice as a consulting engineer and land surveyor and, in 1969, formed a corporation known as Perla and Stout, Engineers and Surveyors.Community service included more than 30 years actively involved with the Boy Scouts and more than 12 years with the American Red Cross, including presidency of the local county chapter.He married Jeanette Monroe in 1941 and they had two children. His daughter, Marilyn Matthews, lives in Newbury Park, Calif., and his son, Daniel Perla, lives in Martinez, Ga.He has four grandsons and four great-grandchildren. After living for 16 years in Florida, Pete moved to Georgia eight months ago to be near his son, Dan. The family enjoyed trips to Florida and Georgia to celebrate birthdays and holidays with Grandpa Pete. He has one surviving brother, John Perla, who lives in Iron Mountain, as well as nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette, and an infant great-grandson, Ryan Peter Matthews.A memorial service will be held at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010, at 11 a.m. with visitation at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with his connection to the Red Cross, donations can be made in his memory to the local chapter of the American Red Cross.Please share thoughts with the family at Peter's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.