Perry Wahlin

Alan (Perry) Wahlin, 87, of Alexandria, MN, died February 6, 2024, at St. Cloud Hospital following a stroke.

Perry was born on October 19, 1936, in Lund Township, MN to Eleanor (Wahlin) and Alton Wahlin, and was baptized at Christina Lutheran Church. At a very young age Perry’s family moved to East Chicago, and later Walkerton, IN. In 1945 the family returned to Minnesota, living in St. Cloud for two years before moving to Alexandria where Perry attended the sixth through twelfth grades, and was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church. He graduated from Alexandria Central High School in 1954.

Immediately following graduation from high school Perry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served his Country for the next three years. In the fall of 1957 he enrolled at the University of Minnesota and, in the spring of 1961, received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with a major in Accounting. While in college Perry began dating a girl from Alexandria, Marlys (Marly) Johnson. Perry and Marly became engaged at Christmas, 1957, and were united in marriage on September 20, 1958. This union, which has lasted more than 65 years, blessed them with three fine sons, Scott, Steven and Stuart.

After graduation from college in 1961, Perry began his career at the Minneapolis CPA firm of Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co, CPA’s where he studied for, and passed, the CPA exam. In 1966, he decided to change career paths and leave public accounting, going to work for Sears Roebuck & Co. at their Minneapolis Catalog Merchandise Distribution Center (CMDC) on Lake Street as an Internal Auditor, ultimately becoming Controller of that CMDC. In 1979 he was promoted to Philadelphia, PA as Group CMDC Controller for the Eastern Territory, where he directed the activities of the Controllers at the Boston, Philadelphia and Greensboro CMDCs. In 1981 Perry was brought into Sears Headquarters in Chicago, IL as Director of Accounting Services for Sears Merchandising. His department there had responsibility for preparing monthly consolidated financial statements for Sears Merchandising, the content for the Annual Report to Shareholders, Quarterly and Annual SEC filings, as well as special reports for the Board of Directors. Perry’s last move with Sears was in 1987, when he was named VP and Controller of a Sears subsidiary, Terminal Freight Handling Company (TFHC) which also was headquartered in the Chicago area. TFHC had a responsibility for all freight movement (trucking) for Sears as well as the operation of 13 freight terminals throughout the United States.

In 1992, Perry decided to take advantage of an early retirement offer and return to his “roots” in Alexandria while he was still young enough to enjoy his three passions, hunting, fishing and golf, as well as spend more time with Marly. Perry was a longtime member of the American Legion, VFW, Elks, Eagles, Ducks Unlimited, Viking Sportsmen and Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. He was also a member of the Alexandria Golf Club for many years, serving a term as Treasurer and on the Board of Directors. When not pursuing one of his three passions his leisure time was spent watching one of his favorite sports teams on TV, the Minnesota Vikings, Twins and Gophers.

Perry is survived by his wife Marly; son Scott of North Carolina; son Steve of Alexandria and his wife Tracy and her son Kyle; son Stuart of Rockford, IL and his wife Anita and her three daughters, Anne Marie, Maya and Char, and great-granddaughter Hallo-Eve Gable; one grandson Jeremiah Wahlin (Courtney), and great-grandson Colton of Kingsport, TN; sister Diane Masterson (Jack) of Boise, ID; brother Ron (Amy) of Portland, OR; step-sister Roxy Brown (Larry) of Elk River, MN; and step-brother Jim Rost of Springdale, MT. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

 A memorial service will be held later in the Spring for Perry.