Farrell J. Perdreauville

Farrell Joseph Perdreauville passed away on 8/13/2021 with his wife, great love and caregiver, Sherry, two brothers-in-law, a son and a son-in-law lovingly by his side.

Farrell, the middle child, was born to Louis and Una (McDonald) Perdreauville along with sisters Betty Jones and Una Mae Breaux.  Raised in Vinton, LA, he was a mischievous and adventurous playmate who didn’t mind a little (or a lot) of mud on the white clothing his mother made him wear.  As a teen, he enjoyed hunting and was quick to share stories about nights spent digging vehicles out of the swamp with his friend, Sonny Sullivan. Farrell worked as a soda jerk at the local drug store with neighbors who encouraged his love for both Chocolate Malted Milk and woodworking.

As a stand-out high school student, Farrell caught the eye of mentors who motivated him to attend Louisiana Tech, where he developed his technical skills as a mechanical engineer. He became a top student with the help of his trademark grit.  This work ethic followed him to Purdue where, fueled by pie and coffee, he earned a PhD.

Farrell met and married Jeanne Rinehart at Purdue, and together they moved to Albuquerque, NM so that Farrell could work at Sandia National Labs.  They raised their children, Amy and Joseph, and spent time in the Conejos River Valley until her passing in 1988.  Jeanne’s death devastated Farrell, but his deep Catholic faith, rigorous daily exercise, and generous friends helped him through.

Sherry and Farrell married in 1990 and undertook the challenge of combining two households, each with two teenage children.  After 33 years of engineering  automatic controls and multiple patents, Farrell retired from Sandia National Labs to move to McPherson, KS with Sherry. Farrell enjoyed hunting, spending time with his in-laws, and supporting the local township board with his engineering knowledge. He loved books, the Norman Luboff Choir, old country music, and westerns. He could carry on a conversation with anyone, occasionally dropping bawdy jokes that never failed to level a room.

Two passions that he has nurtured in multiple generations are fly fishing and piloting his own airplane. Both will always be a part of his soul, especially fly fishing with the best of friends, Tom Robson, Jim Biernat, Jerry May, Bob Pelzl and Henry Street. Time at the cabin that he painstakingly built on the Conejos River will be everlasting treasured memories for all.

Farrell’s devotion to his dogs (Laddie, Cajun, Daisy, Pepper and Maggie) was surpassed only by the love he felt for his family, including four children: Wendy (Dan) Small, Amy (Spencer) Eason, Brian (Heather) Simms, and Joseph (Amy) Perdreauville, as well as seven grandchildren, Chloe Perdreauville, Campbell Small, Kira Small, Clayton Perdreauville, Ava Simms, Lou (Caitlyn) Small, and Bergen Simms.  He will also be cherished by numerous nieces and nephews, greats and great-greats, all of whom will miss his love, generosity, integrity, and charm.

You would be hard pressed to find a man with a quicker wit, a warmer heart, or a deeper soul.  He will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Heart of the Rockies Home Health and Hospice, P.O.  Box 1168, Salida, CO  81201.

A Rosary will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 7 p.m in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 118 S. Gunnison, Buena Vista, CO 81211

A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. in Fairview Cemetery, Salida

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Stew Brown Park, Deer Trail at Sawmill in Mesa Antero, Nathrop, CO 81236

CDC guidelines are in place.  Unvaccinated attendees are required to wear masks indoors and outdoors.

Online condolences may be made at www.lewisandglenn.com

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