Harold Erwin Perkins

Harold (Harry) E. Perkins, 67, of Elysian passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 3, 2020.

Memorial service will be held 11:00a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Northview~North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr., in North Mankato with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Harry was born in Western Wisconsin on July 3^rd, 1952 to Lela (Flugge) Perkins and Robert Perkins. He attended schools in Wisconsin, Colorado, and graduated from North St. Paul Senior High School in Minnesota in 1970. Following high school, Harry attended the University of Minnesota School of Forestry. He graduated from the Colorado School of Trades in 1978 and worked as a gunsmith for Herter’s Inc. in Waseca. He then worked as a machinist for many years at E.F. Johnson in Waseca and Washington Scientific in Owatonna. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Urban and Regional Studies in 1997 from Minnesota State University, Mankato; thereafter he worked in the Memorial Library at MSU, Mankato, for an additional 21 years. The majority of those years he very much enjoyed working as a map technician in the Mary Dooley Maps Library. Harry married Claudia Kieffer on August 31^st, 1974 and raised two children. They spent 45 years camping, backpacking, skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, traveling, and most importantly, spending time with family. He was an accomplished home remodeler, wood worker, and landscaper. Harry was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law, Harvey. He is survived by wife, Claudia; son, Harold (Katherine), Athens, OH; daughter, Anna (Michael), North Mankato, MN; brother, DeWayne (Becky), Spooner, WI; sister, Rose (Rob), Rosemount, MN; brother, John (Tammi), Spooner, WI; sister, Lisa (Bruce), Green Cove Springs, FL; mother-in-law, Shirley, Robbinsdale, MN; brother-in-law, Mark, Robbinsdale, MN; and aunt, Delores (Monte), Hayward, WI. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Holden, Esme, Harvey, and Collin (Nicole), Owatonna, MN.