Dominick "Donk" R. Perruso, 95, of Bethlehem, PA, set sail for his final voyage on May 12, 2022. Born on July 5 ^th , 1926, he was the son of the late Camillo Thomas and Mary (Strohler) Perruso. Dominick lived his life through ritual, habit and tradition. He held his rosary close each night and watched mass every Sunday morning on TV. Born and raised in West Easton, he was a proud patriot who flew the Stars and Stripes everyday in his front yard, never missing an opportunity to salute the American flag. Dominick acknowledged every police office or veteran that crossed his path with a wave, salute or handshake. As a student attending Livingston Elementary school and growing up during the Great Depression, Dominick learned to conserve and recycle whenever he could. He once built an addition to his house by repurposing wooden bleachers from a nearby high school football stadium. Dominick could fix just about anything and would not quit until he accomplished his goal, while always seeking a new one to achieve. He was an invaluable member of the infamous 28-man U.S. Navy veteran crew that returned the 75-year-old WWII Landing Ship Tank LST 325 to the United States in 2001. He was a D-Day and World War II veteran at the age of 17 while serving aboard LST 391 and later aboard LST 212. Although he left early from Easton High School to join in the war effort, Dominick did receive an honorary diploma in 2002 from East Stroudsburg High School.

Dominick understood the value of hard work as he ran his plumbing business for 75 years, while also serving as a full-time Palmer Township K9 Police officer for 30 of those years. He helped establish the Palmer Township K9 Corp as one of the first in the Lehigh Valley along with fellow K9 officers, Jim VanHorn and Earl Hank. In addition, he was a charter member of both the Palmer Township Volunteer Fire Department and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. He served as president to both the Le-Hampton Fraternal Order of Police and Wilson Boro Lions Club and was a member of American Legion Post 9, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dominick cherished his many years of relaxing at his home in the Poconos where he gazed at the wildlife in his backyard, cut and stacked countless cords of firewood and welcomed many visitors, guests and fellow hunters to his "cabin in the woods."

Dominick is survived by his five children he had with his former wife, Margaret, sons, Thomas Perruso and his wife, Jeanette, Michael T. Perruso and his wife, Nancy; daughters, Kathleen Young, Theresa Perruso and Trisha (Perruso) Buskirk and her husband, Ryan. He celebrated 43 "wonderful years of marriage" with his second wife, Dorothy, before her passing in 2016. Dominick is also survived by two step-daughters, Anne DeLong and her husband, Garry and Christine Meredith and her husband, Barry; ten grandchildren, Thomas, Tara, Melissa, Amanda, Timothy, Dominique, Emily, Niklaus, Tyler and Madalyn; four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Sloan, Vance, and Sadie; several nieces and nephews; two brothers, Thomas A. Perruso, Sr. and David S. Perruso. In addition, Dominick leaves behind a large collection of friends and acquaintances he has encountered during his lifetime.

In addition to his wife, Dorothy, Dominick was predeceased by his sister, Theresa Sabatino and brother, Michael Perruso.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Morello Funeral Home, Inc., 3720 Nicholas Street Easton, PA (Palmer Twp.). A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Holy Infancy Church, 312 E 4 ^th Street Bethlehem, PA. Interment will follow at Durham Cemetery, 820 Durham Road Riegelsville, PA.

Although Dominick was not a person who sat still for long, his simple pleasures in life included relaxing in his recliner at the end of a long day with any one of his dogs nearby, sipping a glass of VO, telling long forgotten family stories and contemplating what adventures the next day will bring. In honor of Dominick, tell a family story, serve your community, rescue a dog, have faith, plan an adventure or just enjoy life's simple pleasures. Memorials may be made in Dominick's name to USS LST Ship Memorial, 610 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville, IN 47708. Online condolences may be made at www.morellofuneralhome.com