John Muir Perkins, our humble superhero, passed away in Des Moines, Iowa on February 9, 2026. He was 76 years old.
John lived a life of contentment and subtle exceptionalism. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. His ability to patiently put complex topics into simple terms was shared in his capacity as a lawyer, civic leader, husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and friend.
John had a reputation for integrity that he earned from engaging everyone competently and in good faith. He showed you what he was about instead of telling you.
John used his robust vocabulary to interpret as opposed to intimidate. He was the man who spoke with a voice that didn’t need volume to hold attention. He was a natural and capable collaborator while still being nobody’s fool. He would help educate you if you were open to shedding your ignorance when challenging him. If you thought confidence excused your ignorance, then you were in for a lesson.
John routinely made it into his hometown newspaper, initially for being a standout high school student and athlete and later in life for being an exemplary leader and pillar to his community.
His most cherished and primary identity was as the patriarch of the Perkins family and husband of Judy Perkins. The proof was in the pudding.
John’s son, John (the younger), navigated coming out as gay back in the 1990’s, when coming out could far too often result in family estrangement or worse. He shared his truth with his mother back then, days before he had the opportunity to tell his father. John the father sat his son down upon learning this and told John the younger how hurt he was and how he felt the weight of having failed as a father. John the father didn’t feel hurt or depressed to have a gay son. Instead, he summed up his pain and sense of shortcoming as “it meant I didn’t make you feel safe enough and loved enough to want to share such an important part of your life with me sooner.”
John the younger spent his entire life knowing and proudly sharing the rare gift of such a loving and supportive father. He tragically passed away to cancer just days before John the father’s terminal cancer was discovered. Their deaths are exactly one month apart.
John’s daughter, Jennifer, took after his love of basketball in her grade school years and committed on levels that only elite talents could realize. He made a promise to train her without pressuring her. He vowed to stop the moment it was too much. Countless 5AM mornings of training drills before school helped her become the first person in 30+ years to beat his high school career scoring record at their shared alma mater. John only missed a handful of her college basketball games despite the home games being a four-hour drive away. Many years later, Jennifer relayed to her dad about a doctor’s warning that her knees couldn’t handle her playing one more game of basketball. She told her dad how she would hang it all up after a local game that weekend in Minneapolis. Upon learning this, he drove 3+ hours to show up to watch her play a random rec league 5-on-5. He told her, “I was there for your first game. I wanted to be here for your last.”
John’s youngest son, Jeff, after a gap year (or few), followed in his father’s footsteps attending the same law school and practicing in the same area of law. John had countless wise tidbits to share along the way and could have shared infinitely more given the opportunity. John never imposed his mentorship, yet he was always available to lend an attentive ear and share his invaluable insight gained from over forty years in the profession. They had a celebratory dinner the day the Bar exam results came out. John knew the anxieties of that entire process well. He again knew the perfect way to assure and affirm his son, “I just want you to know how pleased I am with how you got through all of this. I say pleased because I would be proud of you regardless of any result.”
His sweet nature shone its brightest when it played off the excitement of his grandchildren. Jimmy and Jacklynn would light up and shriek a joyful “Poppa!” whenever they’d see him. This gentle giant would gladly take a little one’s hand as they paraded him around and showed off the day’s latest accomplishments or made up things to talk about. His back rubs and pats were their favorites, and his lap was the best seat in the house for a millionth viewing of a Bluey episode. The mere mention of his name could be the antidote to many a toddler tantrum.
He made the label “in-law” superfluous. Those who have passed before him were adored as family (Jack, Georgie, and Bill) and embraced as family (Marion, Stan, Gerry). Those who survive him hold places in their hearts all the same: Barbara, Jan, Sue, Tina, Nicholas, Jimmy, and Marie.
And then, of course, there was his wife, Judy. They met “shortly after the earth cooled” during college. They could recount their meeting and first date as if it was yesterday. Their longest running rivalry may be their only unsettled bit of business: whose story about Jude’s response to his proposal was correct? (hers: “You did it! You really did it!” His: “You did it! You *finally* did it!”)
Fifty-four years of marriage; a consistent home; some varied careers; several active slots on community organizations, community groups, and charities; three children; two grandchildren; and zero secrets later he would still refer to Judy as “my bride.”
He was the fuel to her flair. He was the point to Jude’s exclamation. He’d say she was the picture and he was the frame. He would dance because she was dancing.
He was the beat in her heart.
Everything about him inspired an appeal to be better, which is what attracted everyone toward him. He was a complete net positive—an accomplished, honest, kind, and content man—deserving of recognition at a time when those qualities seem irredeemably lost around all of us.
We will need to carry on and we will. Meanwhile, we will be hosting a celebration of life between 1:00 and 4:00 PM on March 14, 2026 at Allora Cafe, 1459 Grand Ave, Krause Gateway Center, Des Moines, IA 50309.
For the many who have asked what they can do, our ask is to do what you can to leave a positive mark in this world. Integrity, credibility, care for others, and service seem to be in such short supply these days, and nothing would make us and both our lost, beloved Johns happier than for you to make an effort to counteract that trend.
If you are inclined to make a financial contribution to something in his honor, we ask that you consider a donation to the Sarcoma Foundation of America or to make a blood/platelet donation just as we requested on John the younger’s tribute.
Final fun fact: John the father was once a director on the board of the American Red Cross and was in the two gallon blood donor club before they cut him off because of course he was.
We invite you to share a comment or memory below along with your name if you are so inclined.
Responses
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So many memories, so little space. John may easily have been the smartest, most well read person I’ve ever known. He was a great friend as well as mentor to me. He was also the man in my opinion who “Saved St. Edmond”, which is a long story but if you know, you know it’s true. I will never forget the way he conned me in to assisting with those 5 a.m. basketball clinics. I treasure the times we spent together for fun or when we were trying to keep our beloved alma mater open. I must also add my deep condolences for John the younger, whose razor like wit I will always remember. Connie and I feel blessed to have been welcomed into the Perkins and Ruzich clan on so many occasions. May the family find the peace and comfort they need to move forward. God Bless.
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John exemplified what it meant to be a great man, parent, and supporter. His legacy will most definitely live on and I look forward to the reminders that will pop up from time to time.
I like to think that my mom is chatting with him about high school. 🥰
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The Remembrance above of my dear friend, John, is John himself. Because, rather than going through page after page of John’s many accomplishments, it paints a true picture of who John was, what was important to him, and what he was most proud of: not all of his accomplishments but, rather, the blessings in his life that were given to him and the many blessings he gave to those he loved and cherished. The dear Lord did all of us a tremendous favor when a man such as John was placed on this earth!
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Such a beautiful remembrance for a wonderful gentleman. So sorry for the families losses. John was so friendly and welcoming. Always loved visiting with John and his bride.
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This reminds me of the obit I wrote for my father when he passed years ago. Only this one is far better and captures the true John that we all knew as a husband, father, grandfather and the best friend. The tears come easily as I read the words of his time with his children and grandchildren. John lived the good life and we all have been blest for it.
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Without question or doubt John was a truly remarkable person. He trod lightly in this world, yet had such a tremendous impact on his family and those who knew him. He was a rare human being and wise man and if you ever had to hold up someone as a role model to aspire to in life, there are few that you could name above John. This has been a heart wrenching time for his family with John (snr) and John (jnr) leaving this world this year. My love and support goes out to you all.
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What a tribute to John! My sympathy goes out to Judy, Barbara, Jeff and the rest of the family on the loss of both Johns. To me John Sr was a classmate a few years ahead of me at St Edmond, my guiding attorney and source of reason after my mother and daughter died and also a parent of my daughter’s classmate. He was a gentle speaker offering great advice. John, you will be missed.
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My sympathy to Judy and the family John loved so much!
I enjoyed the many miles our bicycle group rode together in the early mornings and the RAGBRAI trips we went on! He was so happy Judy bought him a new sleeping bag so he would no longer need to borrow Jennifer’s Strawberry Shortcake one that he said only came to his knees!
Tom Miklo, I know the St. Edmond story and it’s true. It was my honor to be part of the team he led and I observed his thoughtful, steadfast leadership!
He is missed by many. -
Oh Judy and family,
My heart hurts for all of you. John was an inspiration to so many and especially my late husband .
My sympathy and love to all, John’s legacy will live on.
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It was such an honor to have John in our lives. His smile just makes your heart happy. Gentle giant is the perfect description. Soft, clam and quiet but always with attentive eyes. We will love and miss you forever😘❤️❤️❤️
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Judy and family-
There are no words adequate to comfort you with these sad losses. Please know how much we respected John and will keep you all in our prayers for healing and comfort in the difficult days ahead. -
What a beautiful tribute. Drew and I are sending all our love and hugs to you and the whole family. We are just heartbroken for you.
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John was a grade school and high school friend of mine. We spent countless hours playing baseball at Dodger Stadium , playing football on the Perkins lawn or playing basketball on the Perkins driveway. Yes , we spent a lot of time at Perks house .When I think of my childhood at Corpus Christi School and later at St Edmond High School, I think of John and our mutual pal Larry Castagnoli. I think of the countless trips our trio made to Hogans Sporting Goods to view the baseball gloves, bats and indulge in an ice cream sodas.The trips to Tom’s Lunch for 15 cent hamburgers in down town Fort Dodge. We were even guilty of ditching school lunch a number of times and dinning off campus. We rode our bikes all over Fort Dodge without a care in the world. I think John was the most intellectual of our little group but shared the collective view that school was something you did when we were not playing sports. John was a kind and gentle person. I can’t remember him angry or spiteful . All and all John was a gifted athlete, loyal team mate and a fine friend. The world is a better place because of John. I know it, because I was with him in the beginning.
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I am very sad to hear of the passing of both John Sr and John Jr. John Sr Was a colleague and a good friend. I remember it was very late at night when John Sr called me with great excitement over the birth of John Jr. I was able to return the favor a few years later when my oldest son was born around midnight. This world will miss John, his eloquent sound advice and his excellent dry sense of humor. Our sincere condolences to Judy, Jennifer, and Jeff on their tragic losses.
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I knew John when my father and Jay Billings coached 8th grade basketball at Corpus Christi. He was a kind person and loved the sport. I know he will be missed by his family and friends.
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I am so sad to hear of the death of John Senior and of John Jr. Both are a loss to us and a gain for those in heaven. This reflection is beautiful and so right on. Chuck and I thought the world of John and Judy and their whole family. We are grateful for the wonderful times we had together in Iowa and in Florida. Chuck and John go way back even to high school when they played against each other in basketball. I know they will have many good conversations and laughs and basketball games together now in heaven. Peace and all good to you, Judy, and your whole family.
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Judy and family, I didn’t know John well, well enough to get a “hi Sara” as he passed me in the hall.,But my Tim was another story.. Tim worked for Hawkeye Painting when John was remodeling or moving his practice, I can’t remember. But Tim would come home and say he was one of the nicest men he’d ever worked for. And I heard this every day when Tim came home from work.
Judy, I have no words of wisdom, no words that of comfort but please know I pray, that some day all of those wonderful memories you have of John and John will ease your pain, first minute by minute, then hour by hour and so on. I am truly so sorry for your losses💔 -
I was school with Jennifer- John was my 1st basketball coach and my all time favorite coach! I was not good at basketball but tried until sophomore year lol – John was encouraging and just great with us. I have lived in Fort Dodge my entire life and have always loved running into John and Judy – they always remembered my name and would give me updates on the kids. John will be missed so much ! Love and prayers, Sara Winkel
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Beyond thankful for the time we spent together in September. Watching John and Judy on the dance floor filled me with love and admiration. His kind soul radiated to all those around him. All my love to John’s beautiful family.
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Judy and family,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences regarding the passing of John. John left a very large impact on my life during some extremely formative years in high school. I remember Sister Dominic coming to my choir class at St. Edmond and telling me that a local lawyer was looking for someone to help him for a few hours a couple days a week after school. For some reason she thought I was a good fit for the job.
I learned so much from John, exactly as described in this amazing write up. Not only about law, but more importantly about kindness, humility and honesty! Thank you John for everything you did for me. It is something I have never forgot. -
So sorry to read of the lives lost in the Perkins family recently. It was an honor to know John as a leader in our community.
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John Perkins was one of the first persons I met when my family and I moved to Fort Dodge in 1974. Little did I know then that i was meeting someone who would be one of the best friends I would have during my life. The things we did together over the next 50+ years would make a difference in our lives and in the community. From the early sports we played together (John always won); the fishing trips to Canada with Gary Ray, Kent Osboe and Larry Messerly; the many social events with John and Judy; working with John on the governing boards of Trinity Regional Medical Center and the Iowa Health System and spending time with him to craft an estate plan for Joan and I that will benefit our family long after we are gone. One quick story provides insight into John’s impact on the community and his ability to make things happen. John called me and asked if I would be on a committee to look at ways to make St. Edmonds a stronger entity and improve its financial strength. He said that Joe Coleman and a couple of priests and community members would also be on the committee. I said sure. When I got to the first meeting, Joe Coleman looked at me and asked what the agenda was as John (without telling me) had told all the members that I was the chairman.
While I’m saddened by his passing, I am also thankful to God for giving me the privilege of being a friend to a very special person! -
I have been a freelance writer as a hobby for 6 decades. I am decidedly not a poet. However, I wrote the following for myself in June 1994 thinking about many lunch visits with John. I regret never showing it to him.
FRIENDS
They talked and laughed and lied a little… mostly talked.
And hoped.
Each hoped for himself and for the other. Each had more questions than answers.
But sometimes they had answers that really didn’t fit the questions.
And that is when they laughed.
And challenged and cajoled and nurtured.
And each made a unilateral decision to trust the other. It was not quick. And that is good. That made it real.
And one was conservative. The other liberal. But not too conservative. And not too liberal.
And one taught the other that sometimes things are gray rather than black and white.
And the other that things are black and white. Not gray. And there is a right. And there is a wrong.
One friend asks, “Are you the judge?”
The other says, “No. But that does not make it gray. Someone knows. Someone can judge.”
And they laughed. Because both of them are right and both of them are wrong.
And they learned to trust. Themselves. Each other.
They are friends.
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Don’t RIP, my friend! Let your voice be heard.
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Peg and I did not know John for a lengthy period of time, but it didn’t take long to be impressed by him and Judy. There is nothing in the tributes to John that surprise us. It was evident from day one that he was a person of quality, strength, gentleness, good humor, and courage. That he was a loving person could be seen in his relationship with Judy. We are happy to have known him and can only wish we could have known him longer.
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My first memories of John were watching him play basketball for St. Edmond while I was growing up. What a star! As I got older I got to know John better and played with him on the “Geezers” a bunch of old guys that won the St. Edmond Alumni Tournament years ago. John was also my parent’s estate advisor/attorney. Such a nice, bright, helpful man. John impacted so many in a postive manner. He will be missed. Condolences to Judy and all family members.
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What a beautiful tribute. So very sad to hear this news. Dennis loved playing and attending sports with John. We loved traveling with John and Judy. Especially the luxury massages. We were privileged to work with John to set up a special needs trust for our son. He was so kind and meticulous during this journey. Our hearts go out to all of you.
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As a former neighbor in Fort Dodge, I remember how kind and friendly John was. Judy and family please accept my sympathy on the passing of John and your beloved son.
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John M Perkins
As I have read through John’s Obit Comments several words kept standing out, Kind, True, loyal, Amazing, Courageous, Titan, Funny, Athletic, and many more but to me four words describe John- Partner, Father, Papa, Friend. I like two other incredible people who were lucky enough to be included in the Perkins Family. Largely in part because he had the nerve to ask Judy on a date. John was very welcoming the first time I met him with a gentle smile and a firm handshake on that Thanksgiving morning. Little did I know how much I was in store to learn from him in the years to come.The Father
There was never a time when I would ask John about one of his kid’s childhoods that it didn’t instantly bring a smile to his face and his trademark soft chuckle.
The day I asked John for his blessing to marry his only daughter was a special day for me and I’ll never forget what he said. “Well Jimmy that’s fine with me but you should probably run it by Jennifer first”. it was in this response that I came to realize that as Father you know when you have raised someone with a good head and they can make decisions for themselves and you’re going to support them in whatever they do. I Hope I can do half as good of a job raising our kids as John and Judy did with theirs.The Partner
The Next day John and Judy took Jenn and I to the airport and when we arrived Judy was quick to get out and open my door and whisper in my ear “John told me the news and I’m so happy and I cant wait”. I was very perplexed I wasn’t aware he would tell her, the thought hadn’t even entered my mind that he would. A very short time later we were all sitting around talking and that’s when I learned that Judy and John never kept anything from one another. That was deal they always had, partners must trust one another and share with each other and they did 100%. It’s something Jennifer and I are doing our best mimic every day.The Friend
As John and I got to know each other more over the years. I was always in awe of how much patients John had, whether it is responding to a situation, or in deep discussion about a delicate topic. This is something I have very much taken to heart and try to get a little bit better at every day. I am always trying to learn something new from each person in my life and how they handle everyday situations and with John he made every day a joyful learning experience. As his brother Bill would say “you are always in training, you’re either the trainer or the trainee”. John was humble enough to know when he needed to be either and that’s one of the many things I’m going to miss dearly about my friend.
The Papa
This one I got to watch in real time I would say I got to watch him grow into it but when you’re a natural at something it looks effortless. His Grandkids were born at the tail end of the covid restrictions and the best day we had in the stepdown NICU next to going home was the day they lifted the restrictions on having anyone be able to come visit. That was a great phone call to make, as I got to call John directly and ask him if he and Judy would like to come meet the kids today or they could wait until the morning as it was late in the afternoon, John didn’t think twice “ we will come up today give us a few minutes and we will be there” and it’s one of the few times he meant a few minutes. He took it as a personal challenge to get Jimmy, his grandson, walking after Jacklynn took off like a rocket walking around the house. John came over almost every day after daycare and would hold his hand, and they would walk laps around the lower level of the house. One evening while I was at a work event I received a video from Jeff, and it was Jimmy taking his first steps out of the loving hands of his Papa. Jacklynn and her papa had a special bond as well, she was always pushing the envelope with Papa to do things for her or with her. “I want Papa to do it” was a pretty funny saying for those of us in the room because this could be anything from Changing her diaper, handing her a sippy cup of milk, building a tower or simply cuddling on the couch to watch for the millionth time an episode of Bluey or Mickey Mouse Club. He only ever turned her down on the diaper change and he would say with a chuckle and a smile “Papa doesn’t do that anymore” to which Jacklynn would respond “okay PAPA” which if you know Jacklynn she will argue anything no is said to. To say he was an amazing PAPA would be an understatement and I’m going to miss the way the kids and John would light up whenever they would see one another -
John and I went to Corpus Christi many years ago. He and “little brother”, Bill always towered over me as we did what kids did in FD. I spent a lot of time in his home and his family was always welcoming. We drifted apart as so many of us do as our lives evolve into whatever plans God has for us.
I am so proud to know that John led a spectacular life and I know that he will lead our Gaels to victory one more time today!!
Remembering John M. Perkins 
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