Public Notices

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Obituary Notices for the Week of February 21, 2007 Jamie Perna Funeral services for Jamie Mark Perna, age 47, were held on February 17, 2007 at the Gearty Delmore Funeral Home in Plymouth with Pastor Skip Reeves officiating. Jamie passed away on on February 9 at his home in Visalia, California. Jamie was born on May 23, 1959 in Perham to Morris and Arlene Perna. He grew up in Clarissa. While attending high school, he participated in basketball and baseball. He graduated from Clarissa High School in 1977 and joined the United States Navy, serving as a corpsman. He was stationed in San Diego, California for the entire 4 years and grew to love the area. Jamie was proud to have served his country. After returning to Minnesota, he worked at Phillips Medical Supply and then at the cardiac care unit at North Memorial Hospital, where he was once honored as employee of the year. After leaving North Memorial he worked at a nursing home for a short time before going to work for Cigna Behavioral Health in Eden Prairie. In October of 2005, he moved to Visalia, California to be back in the part of the country he so loved. He also fell in love with his long time friend, Kim Douglass, becoming engaged in 2006. In his "younger years" (in his 20s and 30s), he played on the VFW softball team with his brothers and buddies. He was known for his strong throwing arm. Basketball was another sport he played as an adult in a community recreation league. Cooking was a hobby ­­ grilling steaks and making Finnish flat bread. He was proud of his Finnish heritage! The music was always playing, whether he was in his car or putzing in the yard. He loved playing golf with friends and family. Jamie loved taking road trips around the country ­­ South Dakota, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Arkansas, Wyoming and Georgia to name a few. The cabin at Battle Lake was one of his favorite spots since childhood. Jamie loved children and they loved him. He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews and was especially proud of and close to his step-grandchildren ­­ they called him "Papa" or "pr. Buppa." Jamie is survived by his fiancé, Kim Douglass and her children Duane and Alyssa; parents, Morris and Arlene Perna of Golden Valley; brothers, Jarl Perna of Buffalo and Jay (Deb) Perna of Brooklyn Park; two sisters, Janna (Gary) Luebben of Zimmerman and Jerene (Jason) Skeie of Corcoran; 11 nieces and nephews, Elias and Tanner Perna, Jill Newcomb, Travis and Darin Luebben, Shelby and Cameron Perna, Lindsay Rowles, Connor, Sadie and Emma Skeie; and 4 great-nieces and nephews, Jordan Mosey, Jayna Newcomb, Olivia and Emily Luebben.