Funeral services for Edwin B. Perkins, age 78, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. Private burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services on Thursday.

Edwin died Sunday, March 9, 2003, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester after a courageous nine-year battle with cancer.

Edwin Bernard Perkins was born Dec. 6, 1924, in Detroit, Mich., to Bernard and Helen (McDonald) Perkins. He married Elaine Johnson in 1946. She passed away in 1974. On April 24, 1987, Edwin married Janice Christenson in Albert Lea. Edwin was a self-employed contractor in Austin and was also involved in sales for several years. He resided in Albert Lea for 35 years. Edwin enjoyed music, playing harmonica and accordion.

Survivors include his wife, Janice; daughter, Celeste and husband Hardy Price of Rochester; five brothers: Joseph and wife Pat of Coos Bay, Ore., David and wife Marlys, and Daniel and wife Connie, all of Rochester, Paul and wife Judi of Austin, and Timothy and wife Sue of Apple Valley; three sisters: Marianna DeGiorgio of Garden City, Mich., Mary and husband Gordon Lampman of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., and Lois and husband Marvin Lovlein of Klamath Falls, Ore.; father-in-law, Clayton Warke of Albert Lea; brothers- and sisters-in-law: David and wife Karen Warke of New Richland, and Roger and wife Janet Loken of Rochester; and nieces and nephews.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Elaine; one brother and one sister; and mother-in-law, Eileen Warke.

Edwin will be sadly missed by his family and friends. Blessed be his memory.