Perry Larsen, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Aperion in DeKalb, with NIHA (hospice) care. He was born May 21, 1927 in DeKalb, Illinois, the son of Roy and Louise (Wernette) Larsen.

Perry was a lifelong resident of DeKalb. He graduated from DeKalb High School in 1944 and then enlisted in the US Army at age 17, serving as a clerk in the Medical Branch in Germany during World War II (1944-1945). He later graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and married Edythe E. Wurster on June 22, 1952 at the Good Hope Church in rural Elizabeth, IL.  They soon joined First Lutheran Church in DeKalb, where they were very active members.

Starting as a youngster, Perry worked hard at many jobs throughout his life. As an adult he was a surveyor for many years, during which he surveyed many roads in DeKalb County and beyond.

Later, he was employed as a craftsman and electronics technician in the Psychology Department at Northern Illinois University, from which he retired in 1989.

He had many enjoyments in life, such as: home improvement, sharing his engineering skills and toolwork with his children; driving (Sunday drives with family, road trip vacations, visiting with his sisters and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, volunteer driving with meals on wheels and MedVac); and time spent at church dinners, extended family reunions and picnics, with his special coffee group and Pedaling for Parkinson's.

He is survived by his wife, Edythe, his children Allen Larsen (Janice), Linda Lucek (James), Ray Larsen (Joan), Dave Larsen and Dean Larsen; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Donald Larsen, and sisters Marjorie Rhodes and May Allen.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 22, 2024, at First Lutheran Church, 324 North Third Street, DeKalb. Burial will follow with Military Honors at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

For information or a livestream link for family and friends unable to attend in person, visit https://youtube.com/live/7HnJZnqLCIM?feature=share

Our family would very much like to thank the many who have helped Perry and us during the course of his illness, including Pastor Janet Hunt and all the healthcare workers and NIHA Hospice, especially Sarah and Sherrie.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Lutheran Church or Parkinson's Disease research https://www.apdaparkinson.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/.

For more information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.