Michael Dale Parkins (2014)

PARKINS, GREENWOOD, SNYDER, GUILE, SUTTON, KIMBERLY, KLASS-HUGHES

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 1/4/2015 at 15:49:47

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
January 04, 2015

MICHAEL D. PARKINS, Urbandale, Iowa

Michael Dale Parkins, 63, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 21, 2014, from cardiac arrest at his home in Urbandale. In agreement with his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service celebrating Michael's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2015 at Lutheran Church of Hope, located at 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines. The family will greet friends following the service on Friday, at the church. A private committal service will take place at a later date.

Michael was born on June 17, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa to Melvin Wallace and Wanda (Greenwood) Parkins. He was a 1969 graduate of Adel High School and had attended both Northwest Missouri State University and The University of Iowa. God made a farmer. A registered Purebred Black Angus Cattle Breeder, Michael was employed all of his life as a farmer/rancher. He loved farming, raising show calves and driving his John Deere tractor. For 30 years, he was also employed as a Supervisor/Purchasing Agent with John Deere. Michael was a member of the American Angus Association and John Deere Golf League. He enjoyed watching all sports and NASCAR racing. He loved being involved with his grandchildren, their 4-H Cattle projects as well as sporting events. Michael was a loving, caring and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend; he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Diane Parkins of Urbandale; three daughters, Angela (Chad) Snyder of Winterset, Lacey Guile of Adel, and Melody (Lee) Sutton of Hubert, NC; two stepsons, John Kimberley and Jeffrey (Amanda) Kimberley both of Collins, IA; mother-in-law, Darlene Klaas-Hughes; brother, Marty (April) Parkins of Adel; six grandchildren, Cassidy Snyder, Talan Guile, Morgan Sutton, Liam Sutton, Grace Kimberley and Avery Kimberley; and last but not least his four-legged furry friend, Buddy Max. Michael was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that any memorial contributions be made in Michael Parkins' memory either to: GiGi's Playhouse, Inc. - Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Des Moines; or Madison County 4-H Fair.

Online condolences may be sent to IlesCares.com.

Transcribers Note: Michael was a native of Madison County being raised on his parents farm north of Winterset, Iowa.