Ewing Funeral Home logo
Photo of Marvin Dean Perkins

Marvin Dean Perkins

2/1/1936 - 12/11/2009


Obituary


Marvin Dean Perkins, 73, of Britt, Iowa, passed away on December 11, 2009 with his wife of 52 years at his side at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services for Marvin Perkins will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt, with Pastor William Peake officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. Military graveside services will be conducted by the Britt VFW and American Legion Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt, and will continue one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Marvin, the son of Raymond and Mary Perkins was born on February 1, 1936 in Britt. He grew up in the Britt and Corwith areas.

On July 7, 1957 he married the love of his life, Carol Jean Marth in Charles City, Iowa after tricking her into holding his hand by counting her fingers in Japanese. Marvin and Carol traveled together with their children for many years while they both served their country, Marvin in the Army and Air Force, Carol as the committed military wife.

Marvin graduated from Corwith High School. He started his military career in 1953 in the United States Army where he served as a fireman in Taegu in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He then served in the United States Air Force as a member of the Air Force Search and Rescue Team, stationed at George AFB and Vandenburg AFB in California; Mildenhall RAFB in England; King Salmon AB in Alaska; Southeast Asia; and Duluth IAP in Minnesota until he retired in 1974. Marvin continued to stay active with the military as a lifetime member of the DAV, the VFW, and the American Legion.

Marvin stayed quite busy with his wife and children, but he still found time for many hobbies. He enjoyed tinkering around with cars, camping, fishing, and boating. Marvin loved driving and was known for showing up at family events in his van, wearing his jeans and red bandana.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Carol, and his six children: Debra Rae Herweyer and her husband Jim of Pierre, South Dakota, Daniel Dean Perkins and his wife Esther of Forest City, Iowa, Darin Anthony Perkins and his wife Amy of Rapid City, South Dakota, Donavon Eugene Perkins and wife Gudrun of Calcium, New York, Deanna Elizabeth Haugen and her husband Scott of Forest City, Iowa, David James Perkins of Britt, Iowa, fourteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren, and 2 more great grandchildren on the way, also two brothers and seven sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and a sister.

The Perkins family would like to thank the physician and staff of the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City for their compassionate care.

Marvin was larger than life and known for his loving and kind ways. He will be missed greatly.