Don passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 31st, 2014 in Clancy, Mt. After a year and a half long battle with lung cancer.
He was born in Brooklyn NY, March 29th, 1961. He was the eldest of two children of Donald James Perrine II and Ellen Mary Anderson. His parents divorced when Don was young. His mother remarried Richard Kemp, who raised Don and was father to him.
Don joined the Air Force in 1980. After his discharge he enrolled in college. While going to school he got a job at a veterinary hospital. It was then that he knew what he wanted to do, help animals. Don graduated with honors from Colorado State University. He practiced medicine in Nebraska, Arizona and Montana. Don was a gifted Veterinarian that specialized in surgery. During his career Don preformed surgeries on animals ranging from goldfish to grizzly bears, and just about everything in between.
Don was a man of many talents. He was an accomplished artist, working in watercolors, sketching, and sculpting. He loved music and was a rocking’ drummer. His favorite activity was fly fishing, he spent countless hours tying his own flies, reading fishing magazines and of course watching “A River Runs Though It”. He found peace wading into the moving waters of the Missouri. He loved the challenge of the perfect cast, reading the water and hoping a trout would rise.
Don was preceded in death by his mother Ellen Kemp, his step father Richard Kemp, and his faithful golden retrievers Jake and Kelsea.
Don is survived by his sister Denise Perrine in Kansas, several step siblings in New York, his two sons Taylor and Weston in Nebraska, and his daughter Ellie in Montana.
We would like to thank Hospice of St. Petes, Anna you have been so good to our family through this long and difficult time. Words could never pay tribute for what you have done. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, thank you to the hospice nurses that helped Don during his fight. Thank you to Elkhorn, for the respect and care they provided for Don and the kindness they offered to our family.
There will be a private service held for his family. A memory stone will be placed at Ft. Harrison’s Veteran’s Cemetery. Anyone desiring to do so, can make a donation in his honor to the Lewis & Clark Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Don.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Ellie says
I will miss you and always have you with me Dad.
Lynne Burkhardt says
Don was always so patient and kind while teaching me how to care for injured wildlife. He provided countless hours of veterinary services to the Montana Wildlife Center free of charge.
He had many gifts, but the greatest legacy that he left the world is his beautiful, upstanding daughter Ellie. Ellie, I know he is resting in peace because he spent his final days in joy being with you.
sarge todd says
what a good man, friend, and great vet. you were my neibor in mesa, az. who would make house calls for my pets. then had the compassion to put my old dog BUD to sleep in our home. you were real funny when you would be in the middle of our street, practicing fly fishing, I would laugh my tail off, because we were in Arizona’s desert area. then you would get under my skin with your love of drum playing. you had a shit eatin smile, as if you just got away with raiding the cookie jar. we had some good times don, sure going to miss you. rest in peace, and god bless you and your family
Charmine Hehr says
Dr Perrine, as I knew him, was the most talented and compassionate veterinarian I had ever had the pleasure of working with. I joined Dr Perrine’s practice at Mesa Verde animal hospital in AZ early in my career as a vet tech. Dr Perrine took on many complicated surgical cases, eager to take on new challenges, and performed countless charity procedures for pet owners who had financial difficulties. My pets and myself included. Thank you for your good will and for taking me into your home when I had nowhere else to turn. I will always remember you for that and hope to someday be able to return the favor to someone else in need of shelter, comfort, and always friendship. I pray for peace for you and your loved ones.
Patti Sowka says
Don was an inspiration to many who loved and worked with animals. During my time at the Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Don spent countless hours helping us care for the animals. His surgical talent was unsurpassed. Don was a gift to us for much too short a time. Rest in peace Dr. Perrine. We will all see you again one day.
Cher Cher says
Ellie,
I am thinking about you and what a wonderful young lady you have become. I know things can seem dark right now but I know you will prevail and continue to be the beautiful person that you are. Your dad will be missed by you but know that he is with you always and is probably kicking himself for the times he missed here on this Earth with you when he had the chance. I love you and your mom and will be here for you if you ever need anything. Wish I could be with you today but you are in good hands with your mom. God bless you sweetie.
Taylor Perrine says
I am forever thankful that I was able to see my father before his passing and his time on this earth was too short. I love and miss him and keep him in my thoughts. And to my amazing sister Ellie I miss you and hope to talk to you soon. I hope to visit many times here in the future and get to know you even better.
Rest in Peace Dad,
Love Taylor
Denise June Perrine says
Im still so heart broken to write about loosing my brother, my best friend, my protecter. I will write on Monday.
Janet Jahn says
Don always wanted to be a veterinarian. One of his happiest moments was when he got the letter saying he had been accepted into Colorado State’s Veterinary School. He loved vet school and never complained about the endless hours of studying. He was an amazing artist and used this talent to illustrate his class notes. I remember many of his fellow vet students liked to borrow his notes because of his detailed drawings. I’m glad he got to work in a field he was passionate about.
Denise June Perrine says
I was truly blessed to have had a brother like Donald. I still can’t believe I can’t just pick up the phone and have our 2 hour phone chats. My brother and I were raised in a difficult way, our biological father abandoned us all when I was 5 and Don was 10. Instantly Don took on the role of being the man of the house. He took excellent care of our mother, and always made sure I was dressed and ready for school, which he walked an extra mile or so to make sure I made it into the building. Don was a quiet, gentle, and meek boy who never really had the opportunity to enjoy a normal childhood. Until 3 years later when Richard W. Kemp walked into our lives. Don and Richard developed a strong bond, and soon after dating our Mom they married and their union made our lives complete. Richard was a wealthy man, who took care of us as though we were his own. Some of my and Don’s fondest memories were
when Richard who I will refer to as (Dad) took us to Cooney Island and we went on the Cyclone ate Nathan hot dogs and came home with arms full of stuffed animals. Something Don and I hadn’t had in years. Dad taught Donald how to properly make ammo for hunting, and treated Don with the love he so deserved. Dad taught Donald how to build model airplanes, and beautiful sail boats. Donald whom hardly ever laughed developed such a happy and funny disposition. I absoultely loved hanging out with him because he had the funniest sense of humor. A true natural. We finally felt safe. Donald’s love for playing the drums came in 1978 when Dad had a beautiful home in a wealthy area on L.I. N.Y. built for us from the ground up. All our bad memories in that awful home we were born and raised in where instantly washed away. Donald was given his first Ludwig drum set, and he rocked! He never took a lesson, yet he self taught himself how to read notes. He gathered up some of his new friends and created an outstanding band. The music they played was Southern Rock and with that he named the band “South Wind”. His band became so well known they played at local clubs, block parties, and any celebration. Even my sweet sixteen party. People we didn’t even know came to my party because they saw the disco lights, and heard the awesome music. When Donald graduated High School, he decided that it was time to join the Air Force. My Mom Dad and I went out to L.A. to visit Don on leave, and he became a muscular attractive man. He had many friends, and I had finally grown up enough to hang out with the guys, and not be the little tag along sister. For some reason he nick named me “Piglet”, and Beoffren . I never knew why because I was neat, and considered an attractive young lady. After Donald finished his four years in the Air force. He wanted to make our new Dad proud of him and become a taxidermist. He purchased a pigeon from a pet store and tried to put it to humanly put it to death in a zip lock bag. With a cotton ball soaked with a chemical. He wanted to be able to do taxidermy for our Dad because he was an amazing hunter. I watched Don try to put this pigeon to sleep, and within minutes he said “I can’t do this” and set the pigeon free. He flew a little like Will Smith in Hancock drunk for a bit, but finally made his way into the sky. Don’s comment was phew that was a close call.
Don always loved the Midwest and had decided to relocate to Arkansas with his then best friend Tom Whitcomb. It wasn’t long before Don had decided it was time to get serious about life and do what he loved best was work with animals. He moved to Nebraska, and after a period of time married his wife Janet McCall (Jahn). She was a strong, beautiful girl, whose parents made am impression on Don. Janet’s wonderful mother was a professor in Lincoln Nebraska and her father worked very hard as a cattle hand. Donald gave his all to get through school, he drank tons of coffee and hardly slept. With all the stress he was under to pass every test, he had a heart attack. Dissection of the coronary atery. It was a very scarey time for all of us, as Don was only 38 years old and had a beautiful 2 year old son named Taylor and he was close to completing college. With the help of his wife Janet he became well rather quickly and went back to hit the books. Don graduated from Colorado State University, and his hard work and excellent grades was recognized by the Dean, and he was named in the National Deans list. It is because of my brother I myself became a Surgical Technologist at Bassit Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y. I was very proud of my brother and wanted to be a success as he did. I will be forever greatful for him saving my loving dog Suki’s life. He and his team allowed me to fly my loving dog Suki to him to remove a very large tumor from her chest. He video taped the surgery, and he preformed the surgery on Suki with out flaw, like poetry in motion. Suki was flown back home to me, and she lived for another year, before the tumor spread to her bones and she died peacefully with our local Vets putting her to sleep on her favorite blanket. Donald is my only sibling and when I was diagnosed with possible breast cancer Donald was on the next flight and spent a week with me comforting me, and telling me I was going to be alright. Of course he was correct. During that week he spent with me we developed a strong bond. He had remarried to a wonderful, honest, intelligent young lady Danielle, and together they had a beautiful little girl he named in honor of our mother Ellie. The entire time he was with me he held a picture of Ellie and Danielle close to his heart. He was blessed with two sons with Janet, Taylor and Westin, and his first daughter Ellie. Don did his best to be as good a father to his children, but like me with the hard childhood we survived we lack certain parental commitments. I know Don is in heaven, and he is with my Mom and Dad. I hope they are thinking of me as they all left me to soon. In closing when Don was first hospitalized we talked everyday over our morning coffee. We even found humor in some of the things that happened to us when we were kids. Like being rushed out of the house because we were late for school, and upon our arrival the school doors were locked and we thought…..oh we are in trouble! We sat under a tree close to the school and finally the janitor came out and we jumped up ran into school to find out it was Saturday. I miss you so much Donald. I feel lost without you. I never smoked and I wish you Mom and Dad didn’t as that’s why you all are gone at the young ages of 51, and 53. I turn 50 in June. I will remain faithful that I will be greeted by you all with Jesus…….oh and Don I want the bigger bedroom. No hogging the remote either. I love you my dear brother. I’ll see you when Jesus calls me home to you all.
Albert & Marie Adams says
“Hearts remember… long after we’ve said our good-byes, our hearts will remember.”
Marie and I are Donald and Denise’s Aunt Pinkie and Uncle Al.In 2012 we were prompted to reach out to Donald and Denise and renew a relationship after an 18 year separation.Sadly, Donald was quite ill and was not able to make the trip to see us.We did get to have Denise visit.The years seemed to fade away.We did get to call and tell Donald that we were proud of all his accomplishments…and that we loved him. While we are saddened by his passing…we know that he is no longer suffering, and is in a better place.
Al & Marie Adams
7220 Walnut Grove Drive
Mechanisville VA. 23111
804-569-0446
Chris Adams says
Donald was my cousin. Although growing up he was 7years older than me I still have many fond memories of him.From the model building ,the art work, dissecting toads to going fishing. Good times. Always a kind sole to me. Last saw him in 92 out in Colorado when his son was born. Life truly is short. Rest in peace Cuz..
Ian B. Stewart DVM says
Don and I were classmates in vet school. Don was one of our study buddy group. He was always the one who could explain the difficult concepts. We depended on his drawings for extra explanation. He helped us so much. We extend our sincerest condolences to all his family and friends.
Ian and Linda Stewart
Kari Awalt says
Uncle Don,
It was a pleasure to have you in our life. Thank you so much for everything you did for Emily and I. Of course we wish we would of stayed in touch. Life is to short. You meant so much to Emily & I. Also, I can’t forget Kelsea and Jake. The most amazing dogs ever.
I hope you’re at peace.
Susan Erika Argeres says
I have fond memories of Don in vet school…his kindness and amazing art work! Sending warm thoughts to his family and friends.
Denise Churchman says
Dear Don. I miss you. I really really miss you! Its heart breaking to not be able to pick up the phone and talk for hours like we did. We shared so much,and stayed as strong as we could in endless times. I love you. I cant wait to see your kind face and strength again. Love Dee. Ps Taylor loves you and reached out.
Denise says
I miss you.