Michigamme – Forest K. "Punkin" Perry, age 76, of Michigamme, passed away on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at his home, while under the loving care of his family and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.


Forest was born April 20, 1932 in Imperial Heights the son of the late Martin T. Sr. and Amelia M. (LaPin) Perry. He was a graduate of the Michigamme High School, Class of 1951, where he was a member of the Class "E" State Championship Basketball Team and was chosen All-State Center that year. Punkin went on to work for his father in the woods, and for the Riece Steamship Line in the Great Lakes. Forest was employed by A. Lindberg and Sons, where he worked on major road construction projects throughout the mid-west, but always called Michigamme his home. He was a proud member and retiree of the Operating Engineers Local #324. During his employment years Forest also worked for several area contractors.


Punkin was a constituent of the Woodland United Methodist Church, which he helped to construct and was a member of the Champion Lions Club. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time at his camp, with deer season being a treasured time of year. Forest even got his limit of two deer this past season, and had a long standing streak for getting a deer each year. Along with hunting Forest enjoyed the love of fishing. He and his late father Martin Perry Sr. enjoyed a special bond and were more like best friends than father and son, especially when it came to the love of the outdoors. Punkin was always one willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed.


Survivors include his wife Bernice (Gould) Perry, whom he married on January 9, 1954 in Brown City, MI; five children – Cindy (James) DeLongchamp of Michigamme, Robert (Cheryl) Perry of DePere, WI, Lori (Jeff) Mapes of Boyne City, Roxane (Charlie) Gardner of Michigamme, and Joe (Julie) Perry of Ishpeming; grandchildren – Bradley, Christopher and Angel DeLongchamp, Jacqueline, Tracy, and Nicole Perry, Abby and Ethen Mapes, & Daniel and Hunter Perry; great grandchildren Brittney Niemi, Tailyn and Fisher Raisanen and Connor DeLongchamp; sisters-in-law – Lorraine Perry of Michigamme, Bonnie Perry of Waukegan, IL, Barbara Perry of Bridgeport, NE and Sarah Perry of Ishpeming; along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers – Jesse, Martin, Wendelin, Mickey and Vincent Perry.


The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am until the time of the Funeral services at 2:00pm on Saturday May 31, 2008 at the Woodland United Methodist Church in Michigamme with Pastor James Fegan to officiate.
Inurnment will take place at the Lakeview Cemetery in Michigamme. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.


Pallbearers will be grandsons – Bradley and Christopher DeLongchamp & Ethen Mapes and nephews Jesse, Thomas and Edward Perry.