The Perry family story begins with two families who journeyed from Europe to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – and continues across generations, states, and even continents.
William Henry Perry Sr. was the son of Cornish immigrants who came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan seeking work and opportunity. Irene “Irja” Marie (Hakala) Perry was the daughter of Finnish immigrants who also made their home in the U.P.
Together, William and Irene raised nine children in Michigan. Many of those children then raised their own families there as well.
You can read more about the earlier generations behind William and Irene on the Family Roots page.
Over time, work, school, and family led the Perry descendants far beyond Michigan – including California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Wisconsin, and overseas. Today our family includes children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren who live in different states and countries.
This reunion is a chance to reconnect, put faces to names, and introduce the newest branches of the family tree – including little ones and relatives some of us may be meeting for the very first time.
This is a simple, high-level look at how the branches of the Perry family fit together. It’s not a full genealogy chart, but it helps everyone see where they connect in the family story. If you spot something we’ve missed, please let Sarah know so we can keep this up to date.
William and Irene’s nine children form the “second generation” in this reunion. Many of us know them as Mom, Dad, Aunt, or Uncle.
Born between 1939 and 1952 and raised mainly in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, their children, in birth order, are:
Over time, work, school, and family led the Perry descendants far beyond Michigan – to California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Wisconsin, and even overseas. Four of the nine children have passed away and are remembered on the In Loving Memory page.
The 2026 reunion brings together four generations – from those who remember the U.P. days to the great-great-grandchildren meeting everyone for the first time.
Behind William and Irene are parents and grandparents who crossed oceans, moved for mine and farm work, and helped shape the family we’re part of today.
On William’s side, the story starts with Andrew Stevens Perry and Annie (Perry) Perry. Andrew was born in Lelant, Cornwall, and came to the U.S. as a teenager, working first in Pennsylvania coal country and later in the iron mines of Michigan and Wisconsin. Annie was born in Carmel, New York, and grew up in Crystal Falls, Michigan. Together they raised their family in mining locations across the Upper Peninsula.
On Irene’s side, our Finnish roots come from Jacob Nestor Hakala and Maria Eliina (Oja) Hakala. Jacob was born in Kauhajoki, Finland, and Maria in Finland as well, before their families settled in the Princeton and Forsyth Township area of Marquette County. They combined small farms with iron-mine work along Highway M-35 and raised a large family of Hakala children who carried Finnish traditions into the next generation.
For a more detailed look at these earlier generations – including timelines, places, and photos – visit the Family Roots page.