Services for Howard will be Tuesday, August 11 at 1:30 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home, with Bobby Shomo officiating. His final resting place will be next to his wife, Ann at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. A visitation will take place Monday, August 10 from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. The family requests that friends and family attending wear casual attire. Memorial funds may be directed to the family for later designation. For additional questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Howard Dean Perry was born November 7, 1955 in Marshalltown to parents Jess Everett and Dorothy Lorraine (Bohrer) Perry. He graduated from Marshalltown High School and went on to learn auto mechanics in Des Moines. In 1985, Howard joined the United States Army, where he honorably served his country for 7 years. Howard lived in Marshalltown for the majority of his life.

On August 29, 2000, he married the love of his life Ann Elizabeth Brockelsby in Des Moines. Howard and Ann celebrated 11 beautiful years of marriage before she passed away in 2011.

Howard was well known in the community as the owner and operator of Ev’s Ice Cream for 28 years. He made sure to keep the shop open late after the races and on the 4thof July. Howard was an incredibly hard worker and never dreaded Monday mornings. He would make a pot of coffee, grab his favorite mug and start his week strong (so long as his kids didn’t steal his coffee first!).

Family was very important to Howard, and he adored his three children Michael, Andrew and Kathryn. He loved spending time with them and his grandkids. Together they took many trips to Arizona in the winter and to Grand Island, NE. He was known for cooking several “famous” meals, made just his way (“his way or no way for everything,” as his family says). These meals included hamburger casserole, meatloaf, breakfast casserole and cheesecake. In his free time, he enjoyed golfing, shooting at the range, riding in free air, going to the casino and playing cards.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Michael Dean Perry (Leslie), Andrew Jess (Tiffany) Welch and Kathryn Marie Perry (Boe); his grandchildren: Ethan Perry, Todd Jenkins, Jasper Jenkins, Eli Perry, Austin Welch, Jay King, Emmet Perry, Adam Welch, Felicia Jenkins, Averie Welch, Aurora Welch and Jaxon Jenkins; his mother, Dorothy Perry; his siblings Duane Everett Perry and Joyce Lorraine (Curt) Jung; many aunts, uncles and cousins; his close friend Craig Balcom; and his beloved dog, Barney.

Howard is preceded in death by his loving wife, Ann; his father Jess Everett Perry; his sister-in-law Lorretta Perry and many other loved ones.