Frederick Garfield "Fred" Parsons 1881-1949

PARSONS, SULLIVAN, POOLE, MINNIS, STEIDL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/20/2011 at 20:36:10

F. G. Parsons Has Heart Attack, Dies
Rites Will Be Held Saturday
Frederick Garfield Parsons, 67, longtime resident of Estherville, died at 7 a.m. today at Holy Family hospital. Parsons was manager of Farmers State Mutual Hail Association and a vice present of Iowa Trust and Savings bank. Death came as result of a heart attack. He had become ill Tuesday evening.

Parsons came to Estherville from Garner where he was employed in the law offices of former Governor John Hammill. When he first came here about 1903, Parsons worked in the local office of the superintendent at Rock Island railroad.

Shortly after coming to Estherville he was appointed justice of the peace and served in that capacity for several years.

He was a life member in Elks lodge and also belonged to Kiwanis.

He was born Oct. 23, 1881, in Rockford and received his education at Nora Springs seminary in Nora Springs, graduating from there at the age of 17.

In 1910 he was married to Julia Elizabeth Sullivan at Estherville.

Mr. Parsons was an ardent athletic fan and a close student of at least three major sports, football, basketball and baseball. He had followed the destiny of both high school and junior college athletic teams for many years and missed few athletic contests. His memory of past games of note and exploits of past competitors both on Estherville teams and on teams of its opponents was almost infallible and he could recall dates and incidents pertaining to athletic contests and all important details surrounding them.

Mr. Parsons rarely missed a game of the Red Sox the past two seasons and could recount the doings of the old Estherville Eagles. As a Father’s day gift this June, Mr. Parson’s son, Fred, jr., made arrangements with the Junior Chamber baseball board for a season’s pas to all home games for his father.

His son remarked yesterday morning that he thought it unusual that his father hadn’t called him Tuesday night to accompany him to the baseball game at Jaycee field. Later Fred, jr., was paged at the game and told his father had been taken to Holy Family hospital after suffering a heart attack at the Parsons’ home.

Mr. Parsons’ interest in athletics wasn’t confined to the local scene, however, as he also was well acquainted with goings-on in sports on a state and national scale and had attended many major athletic contests during his lifetime. He also maintained a keen interest in local boys who furthered their athletic careers, especially those who competed at the University of Iowa.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Fred G. Parsons, jr.; two daughters, Betty Parsons of Glendale, Calif., and Mrs. Frederick T. Poole of Westbury, Long Island; and two sisters, Mrs. Ella Minnis of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Mrs. A. L. Steidl of Regina, Sask., Canada.

A rosary will be recited at 9 p.m. tomorrow at Sandin funeral home and Requiem high mass will be offered 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick’s church, Father J. J. Keane officiating. Friends may pay their last respects at Sandin’s anytime up to the time of service. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s cemetery in Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, September 1, 1949)