Joseph Edward Perryman, Jr.

Joseph Edward Perryman, Jr., 94, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in Kansas on September 4, 2021. He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy Cloyd Perryman, mother Lena Wood Perryman, father Joseph Edward Perryman, Sr., sister Francis Perryman, sister Elizabeth Perryman Miller, half-sister Wanda Perryman Compton, and grandchild, Tara Morgan McDowell. Surviving family are his three daughters Virginia “Gini” Ann Perryman of Belton, MO; Carol Lynn Perryman (husband Stephen “Mike” Lingrell) of Denton, TX; Kay Perryman Speed (husband Morris “Sonny” Speed) of Eudora, KS; grandchildren George Joseph Speed and Sara Marie Speed, both of Kansas, and great grandchild Marina Paige Herrman of Springfield, MO.

He was born in Chicago in 1927, but lived his young life in Assumption, IL, then served in the Navy at the end of WWII. He earned an engineering degree from the Rolla School of Mines in 1951, joining Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, IL. There he met wife-to-be, Nancy Cloyd, and in 1955 they married and moved to London, England. Over the next 15 years, the family moved to Brussels, Belgium, Johannesburg, South Africa and Geneva, Switzerland before returning to Peoria in 1970, where he worked until his retirement in 1985 after 35 years at Caterpillar. Joe travelled extensively throughout Europe and Africa. Even though he travelled for a living, he made sure the family took vacations every year. One of his career highlights was driving the first CAT through Dublin, creating a one-man parade.
Upon retirement, he and Nancy moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where they made many dear friends and celebrated 58 years of marriage. Dad loved the peace and quiet, the waving pines, and mountain views. He was active as a member of the Computer Club and the Men’s Golf Association of HSV. In September 2020 after serious illness, he relocated to Eudora, Kansas to be close to family.

Dad was both philosophical and analytical. As a family, we gathered every night for dinner and enjoyed debating issues and current events. We learned critical thinking at his knee because he’d challenge us to “prove it!” Old family friends will recall doing the twist and celebrating Christmas high in the Swiss mountains, and his love of shaggy-dog jokes. His daughters will be sustained with memories of love and joy in a life well-lived – so many tales to share, and strong values that became our own.

Joe was a gifted carpenter and all-round handyman. He loved to take things apart and figure out how they worked (ask his son-in-law about putting the computer back together!) He enjoyed stained glass, Zane Grey westerns, golf, and computers. He was a good, thoughtful, and honest man, much beloved by friends and family.

A memorial service will be held at Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines, at Kirk Memorial Garden, 275 Asturias Dr., Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, 71909, at 1:00 p.m. October 23, 2021.

Donations may be made to the Kirk, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude memorial donation page: https://tinyurl.com/JoePerrymanMemorial