Memorial
Lillian Maxine (Uhlenhopp) Perkins, 85, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2017.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 PM, Saturday June 24, 2017 at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be from 4:00pm-7:00pm Friday, June 23rd at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and for one hour prior to services at the chapel on Saturday.
Lillian was born July 9, 1931 near Kesley, Iowa. Her parents were John and Augusta (Cassman) Uhlenhopp. Lillian was one of five children and grew up on the family farm. She graduated from Aplington High School and went on to Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) to earn a teaching degree. She loved working with young children and taught at schools in New Hartford, Alburnett, Toddville and Cedar Rapids. She met Wallace Perkins, a returning WWII navy man, at a dance and they married August 19, 1953. Wallace worked at his father’s television and radio repair shop in Clarksville, Iowa and Wallace and Lillian moved into the apartment above the shop. Their first son, Kelly, was born in November 1955 and they enjoyed their time together as a young family. A few months later, a fire started down the street, quickly moving through the old buildings. Wallace, Lillian and Kelly got out with the clothes on their back and nothing else, and the shop was gone. Wallace found a job with Hughes Aircraft in California, so they boldly ventured west. Lillian would walk Kelly in the stroller through the palm trees to the local market every day. When Lillian’s father became gravely ill, they realized it was time to move back closer to family. Wanting Lillian to see her father before he died, they used most of their savings to fly Lillian and Kelly to Iowa, while Wallace packed their belongings and drove back cross country alone. Wallace took work with the United States Defense Logistics Agency and the family settled initially in Hiawatha, before buying a home on Elmwood Drive in Cedar Rapids, where they raised a family and Lillian would live for over 40 years. Holly was born in January 1961, giving Lillian her precious little girl. A few years later, she went to the doctor about some stomach problems and was surprised to learn she was pregnant. Tracy, her second son, was born in December 1963.
Life wasn’t always easy but it was good. Wallace and Lillian had a strong, loving marriage and partnered to raise a strong family. After retiring from teaching, Lillian worked part-time as a telephone operator and in the gift shop of the then Stouffer Hotel at the Five Seasons Center. Wallace was diagnosed with cancer in 1985, and Lillian nursed him at home until he died 16 months later in April 1986.
Once again, Lillian showed her resilience and inner strength by picking up the pieces and moving forward. She learned to live on her own and make her own decisions. She worked at local daycares, spent time with Kelly in Cedar Rapids, and regularly visited Holly in Tennessee and Tracy in Chicago.
Her grandchildren gave her immense joy. First, little Spencer with the full belly laugh, who made her a Grandma. Then Grayson, who enjoyed going to the old wading pool at Twin Pines, and playing in the snow when he visited “Grandma Lily”. Next came Calvin Wallace, who loved to make Play-doh creations with Grandma and, as Lillian observed, pointed with his middle finger just like his grandfather. Finally, Elise, her hoped for granddaughter. Lillian bought her first pretty little doll for a grandchild, only to have Elise name it Baby Ugly.
Lillian was a kind and generous woman. She was a devoted daughter-in-law, including Jean Perkins in all family holidays and regularly visiting her until she died in 2003 at the age of 99. When her sister Leola’s granddaughter took a job in Cedar Rapids and needed a place to stay until she got on her feet, Lillian took in Jesse and her husband for several months. Previously, she was an active member of Westminster and spent many hours as a deacon, visiting the elderly and the sick.
Lillian and her sister, Leola, shared a special bond, talking almost every day. At her 80th birthday celebration, Tracy thought his mother had lost it when he heard her getting ready in the bathroom and talking loudly to herself. He was relieved to learn that Lillian was crouched down at the bathroom window talking to her sister, who was crouched down on the front porch. They never ran out of things to talk about.
She enjoyed life, was quick to smile, always ready to laugh at a dumb joke, and saw her loved ones, who were many, through a special lens. To have the privilege of seeing yourself reflected in Lillian’s eyes was to see yourself as you aspired to be – kind, courageous, funny, smart, beautiful.
She loved talking to people. On more than one occasion, she had interesting conversations with people who had dialed the wrong number. She liked to cut up a little apple in her salad, ordered her soup extra hot, preferred to eat two halves than a whole of anything and loved stealing sips of your cold beer.
She will be missed.
Lillian is survived by her son Kelly Perkins (Nancy Wyant), daughter Holly (Jon) Niehaus, son Tracy (Marcia) Perkins, grandchildren Spencer Niehaus, Grayson Niehaus, Calvin Perkins and Elise Perkins, and sister Leola (Garrett) Weiland.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband Wallace Perkins, her father and mother, and her three brothers Merle, Dean and Elvin.