Dr. Perry M. Kalis, Md

Dr. Perry Michael Kalis passed peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Zanesville, Ohio.  Perry was a wonderful husband and father and an exceptional, caring physician.

Perry was born December 23, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, to Michael and Helen Kalis.  The family moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, and Perry ultimately attended West Virginia University undergraduate and medical school, receiving his M.D. in 1971.  He then completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Ohio Valley Medical Center and WVU, respectively, and fellowship training in Infectious Diseases at WVU.  During this time, he also served as a Flight Surgeon with rank of Captain in the Air National Guard, from which he was honorably discharged.

While Perry worked as an orderly at Ohio Valley Medical Center, he met his wife Carolyn, a Med/Surg/ICU nurse.  They married June 3, 1967, and subsequently moved to Zanesville in 1975, where he served his community as an internal medicine physician for forty-five years.  Perry was beloved by his patients and loved the practice of medicine, devoting nearly his entire adult life to it.  He had a wonderful office staff, many of whom had been with him for the entirety of his career and were an extension of his family. Dr. Kalis also served as the elected Coroner for Muskingum County from 2009-2013.

Perry is survived by Carolyn Kalis, his wife of fifty-five years; his children Perry Michael (Melissa) Kalis II, Maria Kalis, and Rebecca Kalis; his favorite grandson Nicholas Baumer; many extended family members; and his college roommate and beloved friend of fifty-nine years Jack Rudolph.

When he wasn’t working, Perry enjoyed working outdoors. He planted hundreds of trees over the course of his life, and enjoyed identifying plants and trees in the woods around his home.  He was a staunch conservative and launched his “Curmudgeonly Conservative Counterpoint” website to publish various opinion pieces on current events.  Dr. Kalis supported his own community and others and had a generous heart. On several occasions, he set Saturday office days and donated all proceeds to communities in need.

Consistent with Perry’s wishes, no formal memorial service will be held.  Donations may be made to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation, t2t.org.

BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME was entrusted with all arrangements.

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