Retired Judge Charles James Perrin, 91, of Venice, Fla., died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, in Sarasota, Fla.
He was born May 21, 1920, in Chicago, the son of Charles and Margaret Perrin. He married Marion Zapfe in 1945. She preceded him in death in December 2006.
His daughter, Mary, and sons, Thomas and James, also preceded him in death.
Judge Perrin is survived by his children, Chuck (Nona) Perrin and Patti (Greg) Keller, both of San Diego, Calif., Rita (Brian) Lyons of Heath, Texas, John Perrin of Mesquite, Texas, Teri (Tom) Brodbeck of Stillwater, Minn., Nancy (Mark) Bacher of Summerville, S.C., Chris (Amy) Perrin of Springfield, Ill., Ann (Steve) Strasser of Mishawaka, Ind., and Melanie (Brian) Ohlenbusch of New Braunfels, Texas; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Judge Perrin was a pilot in the United States Air Force during World War II. He was twice awarded the Air Medal for combat service.
Judge Perrin was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame law school in 1951. He was admitted to the Indiana Bar and the Illinois Bar in 1951. After admission to the bar, he began his career as legal counsel for the Chicago Motor Club and also engaged in the private practice of law. He was appointed as an Associate Circuit Judge for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Illinois in 1977.
Judge Perrin served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges Association. He served on the Public Affairs Committee of the American Bar Association and the Illinois Criminal Justice Commission. He also was a member of the Tazewell County, Peoria County and Illinois State Bar Associations.
Active in many civic organizations, Judge Perrin was the founder and executive director of the Tazewell County Court Counselor Program and served on its Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Directors of the Boys’ Club of Pekin. He served on the Advisory Board of the Parents Without Partners Program and on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center. He was a past president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Men, past president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and a member of the Illinois Catholic Conference Board, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Social Service. In 1973, he received the Governor’s Voluntary Action Community Service Award from Governor Daniel Walker.
Judge Perrin was active in the alumni association for the University of Notre Dame and served on its Board of Directors.
After his retirement from the bench, Judge Perrin moved to Venice, Fla., where he was active in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a charter member of Our Lady of Lourdes Council No. 9924. He served on the Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Venice, as well as being an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communia and Reader for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Road, Venice, Fla. Interment will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice, Fla.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home & Cremation Services Venice Chapel, Venice Fla.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
To offer online condolences, visit www.kays-ponger.com.