’Tis not the end but genesis of better worlds and greater light.
O God, touch Thou my aching heart and calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure, give strength and peace beyond my tears.
There is no death, but only change, with recompense for vict’ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men, the Son of God, the Holy One.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Good morning. On behalf of Aunt Margaret and my father John, I express my gratitude for your attendance this morning as we pay tribute to my Uncle Jim.
Otto, Jim’s father, came with his family from Italy in 1910 and established a farm in the Yerington area. Noma, Jim’s mother, came with her family to the Lahontan Valley from Nebraska in 1921.
Otto and Noma met and married in the early 30’s and lived and farmed in Yerington. Noma joined her mother in Fallon when the due date for her second child approached. Jim was born on March 17th, 1937 to the delight of his four year old brother John.
A few years later, in 1941, Otto, Noma, John, and Jim moved to Fallon and purchased an 80-acre ranch east of Fallon in the Harmon District. They farmed alfalfa hay and milked six Milking Shorthorn in a converted chicken coop with a dirt floor. Otto and his sons built a new 8-stall milking parlor in 1947.
In high school, Jim played the saxophone in the dance band for four years, played basketball, participated in 4-H, and was in FFA. One of the highlights in FFA was a trip to the national FFA Convention in Kansas City with advisor Mr. LC Schank. Uncle Jim credited Mr. Schank with many tidbits of knowledge that he passed on to us as we worked on the ranch.
Growing up on a dairy farm, Otto and his sons kept busy and didn’t have a lot of leisure time. One of the passions that Otto passed on to Jim was his love of fishing. Whenever they got the chance Otto would take his sons and head towards Austin and fish the streams for trout.
Jim’s cousin, Pat Smith, recalls another time when Jim was able to get away from the farm for a bit. When Jim turned 16 and got his driver’s license, his parents allowed him to take the white Oldsmobile with red interior and his 14 year old cousin Pat to a movie in Reno. She doesn’t remember anything about the movie they went to see, but she was just thrilled about the opportunity to travel to Reno with her cousin Jim.
Jim graduated from Churchill County High School with the class of 1955. After high school he joined his father and older brother working on the Perazzo Dairy. When his father died of leukemia in 1958, Jim and John formed Perazzo Brothers’ Dairy.
In the mid-sixties, Margaret Clara Reil moved to Fallon to work as an extension agent. When Jim learned there was a new single, female extension agent in town, he investigated further. After a period of courtship, and I imagine an enjoyable day of boating on Lake Lahontan, Jim and Margaret took a stroll out to the center of the Lahontan Dam where Jim proposed. Jim and Margaret were married on August 6th, 1966 in Carson City. Two days ago was their 54th wedding anniversary.
Jim and Margaret lived in town for a number of years as they built a beautiful home on the ranch. Jim and Margaret created a lovely oasis around their home with numerous trees, flowering plants, and a large vegetable garden. Their summer yard was a favorite in the Churchill County Tour of Homes.
Jim and Margaret’s yard became the family gathering spot for many years of Fourth of July parties. The California cousins and other extended family would come to enjoy an entire day of eating and playing games. There are many great memories of playing horseshoes, croquet, canasta, and pinochle with Uncle Jim always at the grill cooking delicious hotdogs and hamburgers. In later years we added an evening campfire where we recognized our veterans and ended the day with fun skits and patriotic songs. Jim loved our country and was very patriotic. He left a lasting legacy of love for our nation as we celebrate our freedom and independence every fourth of July. Regarding pinochle, as kids when we were learning to play pinochle with Jim, and if we were taking a long time to decide which card to play, he would good naturedly say "play one, look at the rest". A phrase that many of the family continue to use today with the next generation.
This beautiful oasis of a wide variety of plants came in very handy when nephews and nieces (and great nephews and nieces) were assigned the 7th grade biology plant collection project. With Jim’s help, many budding botanists collected and identified the Genus, Species, and Common Name of twenty five different plants.
Jim and Margaret hosted a luncheon in their backyard for the family and friends that came in from out of town for my sister Teresa’s wedding reception back in 1979, for which she is very grateful.
The peach, pear, plumb, apple, and apricot trees along with their bountiful garden and grape arbor provided fresh fruits and vegetables for the entire neighborhood. Jim has a lovely rhubarb patch and was happy to share the rhubarb and Margaret’s easy dessert recipe when anyone asked.
Jim and Margaret were unable to have any children of their own and so they showered their love and generosity on their nephews and nieces. Our families joined together for many holidays and other special occasions. Birthdays, Christmas, and Trick-or-Treating at Halloween were all times when we benefited from their generosity. We often felt we had a second set of parents. They were also generous with sharing their knowledge, encouragement, wisdom, and advice. Let me share a few examples with you, in no particular order.
Earlier this year, when COVID-19 closed schools in mid-March, I taught my high school classes from home on the computer. Working from home, I had time to build the greenhouse that I’d been wanting to build for years. Jim lived directly north of us and would pass by daily on his way to check out things at the dairy. Everyday I’d have a new question for Jim and would be able to ask his advice as he passed by. And, despite the construction plan that I thought I had, I always adapted it to the suggestions of my uncle, and the end product was better because of it.
Jim and Margaret bought a pool table, then later decided they would rather use the space in their home for something else. So they "stored" the pool table in Mom and Dad's family room. To the joy of a bunch of teenagers, we were allowed to use it.
Jim was a good mechanic and welder. He repaired and maintained the farm equipment and taught the next generation to do the same. Jim established and maintained his own shop where he kept a good collection of well organized tools. We were welcome to borrow and use his tools with the clear understanding that the tools be returned so they could be put away correctly. Jim taught us to always use the correct size box/open wrench instead of a Crescent wrench and always return tools to where they belong. Wonderful words to live by.
In 1963, Jim bought a ski boat and skis and our families would spend as many Saturdays as we could out at Lahontan Reservoir water skiing each summer. Jim was very patient as he taught us all how to waterski.
That same ski boat later became his fishing boat. Jim was a passionate fisherman. He enjoyed fishing in Walker Lake, Frenchmen, Wildhorse, Kingston, and Glacier National Park as well as other places. It was noted that Jim always caught the first fish and he always caught the largest fish. All those who went fishing with Jim had a wonderful time.
Jim and Margaret liked to take their travel trailer and visit the National and State Parks with John and Pat Tubbs, and Kathy and John Boyne. Margaret and the ladies would sew and craft as Jim and the men would fish. Jim had many wonderful trips with his travel trailer.
Jim also shared his love with his indoor cats. One large and adorable cat was named Garfield. Garfield would often perch on the backrest behind Jim and Jim would enjoy the affection of Garfield licking his scalp and ears.
The dairy barns changed over the years. The first two barns were flat barns where the milker had to crouch between the cows to milk. Jim’s father-in-law, Orvis Reil, helped design and build the 1973 barn. In that barn, and the current barn, the cow stands on an elevated floor that allows an eye-level view of the cow’s udder. This makes for an easier milking situation. Jim witnessed, and was an active part over the years, in the change from the 1941 remodeled chicken coop to the 2014 double 30 parallel barn that my brother’s now operate.
Jim kept an eye on the neighborhood, he talked with everyone and had the latest news of what was happening. If there was any hint of smoke, he was outside to investigate to see what was burning. If the equipment at the barn didn’t sound quite right, he’d make his way to the barn to see what was wrong. He was able to hear a vehicle coming down the road and identify who it was before seeing it. He was aware of what farmer had which crops, planted where, and who had purchased a new tractor or truck. He was friendly, witty, and a wonderfully sociable man.
Jim also stayed up-to-date on the community, state, and world events around him. When an article of possible interest to any of us appeared in the Lahontan Valley News or the Reno Gazette Journal, Jim would give us his copy of the paper. Jim served on the Northern Nevada Dairymen State Board of Directors and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Board of Directors. He was very knowledgeable about the issues of the day and of the dairy industry and was a great asset on each board.
Jim often got involved in Margaret's sewing projects. One project of note was when he bent heavy wire into a pumpkin shape to hang Margaret’s jack-o'-lantern pieced and quilted wall hanging. He was interested and very supportive of all her crafting, sewing, and quilting projects.
From a very young age the nephews and nieces would each receive a hand-crafted Christmas tree ornament from Jim and Margaret. These keepsakes are still found on our Christmas trees. Other Christmas memories include their delicious homemade fudge.
During the Christmas season Jim and Margaret would decorate their home with over a dozen Christmas trees -- a tree in every room of the house. Each tree had its own theme and decorations. Margaret enjoyed giving tours to explain each tree and it’s ornaments. Their home was opened for the Churchill County Tour of Homes during this festive season as well.
Shortly after Margaret retired from Western Nevada Community College in 1999 the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease began to take their toll on her. Jim lovingly devoted the past 15 years to caring for Margaret in their home. During these years they very much enjoyed frequent visits from my mom and dad and other family and friends.
So, Jim spent his life tilling the soil and tending the cows. But he wasn’t ‘Just a Farmer’ - as this poem expresses so well:
“Just a farmer”, you said, and I laughed ‘cause I knew
All the things that farmers must be able to do.
They must study the land, then watch the sky
And figure just when is the right time and why,
To sow and to plant, to buy and to sell,
To go to market with cattle and well…
You know the books that farmers must keep
To pay all those taxes and be able to sleep.
And you know the fixin’ that farmers must do
When machines like mad monsters break a gasket or two
I guess when God needed folks to care for this earth
He chose “just farmers” ‘cause he knew their true worth.
Jim was a hard-working devoted husband, brother, cousin, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, fisherman, public servant, traveling companion, dairyman, and farmer.
He suffered a major stroke on July 24th and peacefully passed away on August 1st. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret, his older brother John, dear cousins, in-laws, and nieces and nephews.
Thank you Uncle Jim for your life and your example. We love you. You will be missed.
His obituary dated August 3, 2020 in the Nevada Appeal
James B. Perazzo March 17, 1937 – August 1st, 2020
James B. Perazzo, a lifelong resident of Fallon, Nevada, passed away in Reno on August 1st, 2020 at the age of 83, a week after having a massive stroke. Jim was born in Fallon on March 17th, 1937 to Otto and Noma (Smith) Perazzo.
Jim and his older brother, John, were raised on a small ranch east of Fallon. Jim graduated from Churchill County High School in 1955. Farming was a passion for Jim, and he and John soon became partners in the family dairy farm.
Jim met, fell in love with, and then married Margaret Clara Reil on August 6th, 1966 in Carson City. Together they built a beautiful home on the ranch, where they lived for nearly 50 years. He and Margaret created a lovely oasis around their home with numerous trees, flowering plants, and a large vegetable garden.
Throughout his life he enjoyed working on the dairy, visiting friends, fishing, trailer camping, and hosting an annual 4th of July party in their lovely yard. Jim served on various dairy boards and the TCID Board of Directors. He lovingly devoted the past 15 years to caring for Margaret as she struggled with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Margaret, his brother John, and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at 10:00 am at the Churchill County Cemetery, 500 Rio Vista Drive.
Arrangements have been made through the Smith Family Funeral Home (775-423-2255).
You are greatly missed, Uncle Jim.
