Perry Nathan Rich

Williamsburg- Perry Nathan Rich, 39, of Williamsburg, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 18, 2016 surrounded by his friends and family after an 18th month battle with brain cancer. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 pm on Monday, June 20, 2016 at Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Fr. Joseph Roost will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Williamsburg. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held for Perry on July 16th in Williamsburg for his family and friends. Memorials are for Perry's children's education. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com
Perry was born January 12th, 1977, in Mt Pleasant, the son of Phil and Jacque Rich. He grew up on a family farm in Crawfordsville with his 3 siblings. He went to school in the Washington school district starting in 6th grade and enjoyed playing basketball, football and track. He graduated from Washington High School as the salutatorian in 1995. He then went on to Coe College where he played basketball, was an active participant in student government, residence life, and the sports medicine program. He loved Coe College for many reasons but most of all because he met the love of his life, Darcy Driscoll there. Perry went on to graduate school at the University of Iowa and graduated with his Masters of Physical Therapy in May 2001.
On September 22nd, 2001, he was united in marriage to Darcy Driscoll at St Mary's Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Perry and Darcy moved to Michigan for 5 years where Perry was a practicing Physical Therapist and they had their first child, Sam (11), there. Perry and Darcy moved to Illinois in 2006 so Perry could pursue his dream of working for Mark Kaufman at Athletico. Perry was a practicing P.T. and managed an Athletico physical therapy clinic for 9 years in Barrington, IL. Perry loved Athletico and the people he met along the way there. His patients loved him and he loved watching his patients get stronger as every week passed.
While in IL Perry and his wife had three more children, Carly (9), Grady (4) and Charlie (2). Perry was a wonderful Daddy to his four beautiful children. After his morning golf rounds with buddies he would pick up his sticks to bring "The Bigs" (Sam and Carly) out to the golf range to teach them the game he loved. He also coached basketball and football for many years for both Sam and Carly and loved not only watching his own children grow to love the game but also all of the other children he felt so blessed to be coaching. When Perry wasn't coaching or playing golf, he was either working out, running, working in the yard, or helping a neighbor. Perry also found time to cheer on his Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago sports teams. He loved his Hawkeyes, Cubbies, Blackhawks, Bears, and Bulls. He has now passed that down to his children who have fond memories of watching all of the teams together as a family.
After being diagnosed in December 2014, Perry and Darcy moved their family back to Williamsburg, IA in June 2015. Perry often told his wife that it was the best decision he ever made. With the help of the Williamsburg community, friends, and family, his last year of life was full of memories, faith, and love. Perry touched many lives during his 39 years of life and will continue to do so through his 4 beautiful children.
He is survived by his wife, Darcy Driscoll Rich of 14 years; four beautiful children, Samuel (11), Carly (9), Grady (4), and Charlie (2) all of Williamsburg, IA; his parents Phil and Jacqueline Rich of Crawfordsville, IA; two brothers, Neil (Kori) Rich of Crawfordsville, IA and Darin (Diana) Rich of Washington, IA; a sister, Stephanie (Tony) Dacey of St. Louis MO; grandparents: Jeane Frye and Norma Jean & Vernon Roth all of Washington, IA; a brother-in-law Chad (Jodie) Driscoll of Williamsburg, IA; a sister-in-law Gina (Pat) Brummel of Williamsburg, IA; in-laws Bob and Linda Driscoll of Williamsburg, IA; and 10 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Walter Rich.