PARKS, Walter Marion 1875-1951

PARKS, BARNES, STONE, MCKNIGHT

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/3/2009 at 11:11:37

Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 28, 1951, at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Church of Larchwood, Iowa, for Walter M Parks, with Rev. E. Gordon Rifle officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. Marie Zangger and Lee Williams with Mrs. Lee Williams accompanying.

Casket bearers were Leslie Grotewold, Fred Grotewold, Ab. Schmidt, Herb Gottlob, Harry Schmidt and August Hoeck. Mrs. Herman Schreurs and Mrs. Harold Bonander arranged the flowers.

Mr. Parks was born in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, near Amboy, August 23, 1875 and passed away October 24, 1951 after an illness of 2 months at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 2 days.

He attended high school and normal school at Mankato, Minnesota. In 1900 he went to George, Iowa, where he taught school. From 1900 to 1935 he served as Superintendent of schools at George, Lester, Alvord and Larchwood.

On June 17, 1903, he was united in marriage to Clara E. Barnes, of George, Iowa, and to this union eleven children were born. They are Edna Zimmitsch and Alice Keller of Des Moines, Iowa; John of Huntington Park, California; Irene Bylsma of Matlock, Iowa; Clarence of Pensacola, Florida; Alta Mae Patterson of Arlington, Virginia; Ivan of Chicago, Illinois; Clarice Stone of San Francisco, California; Iona William and Eleanor Rockhill of Larchwood, Iowa. A son Lester died in infancy.

His wife, Clara, preceded him in death, March 1, 1923. Mr. Parks and children moved to Larchwood in August 1923, where he has since resided. He spent the last few months at a nursing home in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

On July 2, 1927, he was married to Marybelle McKnight, of South Dakota, who passed away December 29, 1943. Besides his children are three brothers, Elmer of Thief River Falls, Minnesota; Roy of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Ray of Amboy, Minnesota. He was a charter member of the Larchwood Community church. Burial was made in the Larchwood cemetery.

Besides the immediate family relatives from away who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Parks of Thief River Falls, Minnesota; Roy Parks of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ray Parks of Amboy, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Lee Parks and Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Barnes of Des Moines, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. P.E. Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barnes and family, of Balaton, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Barnes of Tripp, South Dakota; Mrs. Pearl Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Barnes and daughter, all of Pipestone, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Flynn Roskam of George, Iowa; and Mrs. L.J. Getting and daughter of Matlock, Iowa.

Lockwood’s of Rock Rapids, Iowa, were in charge of the service.

(Lyon County News Obituary)
Transcribed by Valerie Lane