Perry David Siddle
August 3, 1958 – October 10, 2008
It is with great sorrow I write to announce that Perry David Siddle (50), our esteemed national Royal Rangers training coordinator, was called home to be with the Lord early Friday morning, October 10, 2008, in Springfield, Missouri after a sudden yet valiant fight against cancer.
Perry joined the national team in June 2007 after serving as a Royal Rangers commander at First Assembly of God in Augusta, Georgia, on the Georgia district staff, and on the Southwest Region staff for many years. Like so many of our leaders, Perry was a model of godly manhood. He loved God most, was fully invested in the wellbeing of his family, and worked a job to support his family and underwrite his involvement in the ministries of this Church. As national training coordinator, Perry was diligent, effective, and always cheerful.
I first met Perry in 2002 when he was called upon to spend a few weeks at the national office working on some writing assignments. I quickly learned of his great love for missions. Years later Perry would challenge his district to raise missions funds for Royal Rangers International, suggesting that he would eat dog food if the goal they were aiming for was met. And, yes, as promised, he ate the dog food! He always quipped that the experience made his hair more shinny. Perry knew how to set worthy goals and rally others to help reach them.
As a member of the national Royal Rangers team, Perry was a go-to-guy; he always completed things with excellence. The plans designed for the future of Royal Rangers training have been thoughtfully and wisely established. The contribution Perry made in just one year will influence Royal Rangers all across the nation for decades!
Perry’s greatest contribution has been in leaders. He knew that before we can reach a boy we must reach a man. Preparing men to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders was one of Perry’s greatest ministerial joys. Perry’s investment will endure because he lived his life’s motto found in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “Don’t fix your eyes on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.”
We will all miss Perry’s friendliness and cheerfulness. Even while suffering pain in his hospital room, Perry would smile and refer to himself as Future Escapee ###-2 (his room and bed number). He fully intended to fight and beat his cancer with a great attitude.
Perry loved sweets as anyone who was around him long found out. During one long staff meeting, Perry laid Hershey Kisses on the table in the form of a Royal Rangers emblem, humorously chastising anyone who dared eat one of them. While he knew the importance of our mission, he always injected appropriate humor into the mix.
Perry is survived by his wife and fellow Ranger Kids commander, Lisa, whom he married on July 10, 1982. Together they were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Heather (22), Natasha (1) and Michaela (11). They are an exemplary family—fully devoted to the Lord, His cause, and to one another. Please stand with Lisa and the girls in prayer during this time of loss.
Visitation and service arrangements will be announced shortly.
It has been said that you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it. In Perry’s case, we knew and valued who he was all along. Perry was an authentic follower of Christ, a devoted husband and father, and a highly motivated Royal Rangers leader. We have lost and will miss Perry, but we will never forget his example.
Rev. Doug Marsh
National Director
Royal Rangers
