Parker, William Dean (1902-1969)

PARKER, DURGESS, GUMTAU, JANSEN, MECHEM, GOAD, DIETERICK, ELA

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/26/2017 at 15:45:10

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Tuesday, December 16, 1969

William D. Parker, 67, prominent Stanhope resident and retired postmaster of Stanhope, died suddenly Monday evening at the Hamilton County hospital following a stroke suffered earlier at his home in Stanhope.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Christian church in Stanhope with the Rev. Robert Schultz officiating and with burial in Lawn Hill cemetery near Stanhope.

The body will lie in state at the Foster Funeral home until 9:30 a.m. Thursday when it will be taken to the church.

William Dean Parker, son of Ray and Clara Durgess Parker, was born Oct. 9, 1902 on a farm south of Stanhope. He was graduated from Stanhope high school and later attended Iowa State college at Ames.

He was united in marriage June 3, 1923 to Gertrude Gumtau. Mr. and Mrs. Parker resided for several years on the family farm, moving then into Stanhope where Mr. Parker was employed as postmaster, a position he held for 15 years.

He is survived by his wife; one son and two daughters, Robert Parker of East Moline, Ill., Mrs. D.G. (Gretchen) Jansen of Sioux City and Mrs. David (Mary Ann) Mechem of Clarion. Also surviving are eight grandchildren; several nieces and nephews including James Goad of Bend, Ore., who was reared in the Parker home; two half-sisters, Miss Caroline Dieterick of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Clara Ela of Colorado Springs, Colo.

He was preceded in death by one son, William Dean Parker, Jr., who died in infancy, and by his parents.

Mr. Parker was a member of the Stanhope Christian church. He was also a member of the Acorn Masonic lodge, 601, at Stratford; the Modern Woodmen of America and the Lions club. He was a former secretary of the Stanhope school board and held that position for several years. He also served as a former assessor in Clear Lake township and also for the town of Stanhope. Mr. Parker was a member of the Postmaster's League and the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, and had served in several offices of the association.