Wallace “Wally” Gordon Parker 1922 - 2020

BRENDEN, PARKER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/7/2020 at 07:58:14

Onawa Democrat
7 October 2020

Wallace “Wally” Gordon Parker, 98, of Sloan, Iowa passed away Saturday, October 3, 2020 at Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 10, 2020, at the Skien Lutheran Church, Albaton, Iowa, with Pastor Craig Bock officiating. (Social distancing measures must be followed- Due to Covid -19 restrictions masks are encouraged). Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Albaton, Iowa with Masonic Funeral Rites. Visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 10, 2020 at the Skien Lutheran Church in Albaton, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa.

Wally Parker was born June 26, 1922 the son of Horace B. and Alice (Brenden) Parker. He grew up in rural Sloan and graduated from Sloan High School in Sloan, Iowa in 1940.

Wally and Nadine Yuvonne “Bonnie” Parker were united into marriage January 30, 1954 at the Skien Lutheran Church, Albaton, Iowa. To this union two children were born.

Wally’s passion in life was farming. When not driving around the country looking at the crops or talking to neighbors he enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, hunting, and watching sports, especially Rebel softball. However, everyone knew Wally’s greatest talent was visiting and telling stories to anyone that would listen, particularly about local and family history. He was a true Norwegian and loved his black cup of coffee, oatmeal raisin cookies, lefse, and sandbakkels. He also enjoyed plain cake donuts, cake without frosting, and vanilla ice cream. He could take a nap anytime, anywhere and was rarely seen without his favorite accessory, a toothpick! He and Bonnie loved to travel taking cruises and trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, Canada, Alaska, Colorado and various other destinations.

Bonnie and Wally loved dancing. The pair met at a dance and continued to spend many happy years dancing and socializing with their many friends.

Wally was deeply involved in his local community as a founding member of the Sloan Golf Course and a board member of the Farmer’s Cereal Cooperative. He was honored for 18 years of dedicated service to the McCandless Inter County Drainage District, in January 2012.

Wally was a 72 year active member of Attica Lodge No. 502 A.F. & A.M. Masonic Lodge in Sloan. He attended as many meetings as he was able and enjoyed being the cashier at fundraisers. Wally was a member of the Sioux City Scottish Rite and the Abu Bekr Shrine. He was a member of the Abu Bekr Cycle Corps and enjoyed visiting with circus goers while selling cotton candy at the Shrine Circus.

In his early days, Wally was baptized and confirmed in the Swedish Covenant Church in rural Sloan. Later he became a dedicated member of the Skien Lutheran Church, where he served on the Audit and Budget Committee many times and on the church council. He served on the funeral committee for many years. Wally’s family has a long history with Skien Lutheran Church. His mother, Alice was baptized at Skien in 1892 and his father, Horace was confirmed in 1950. In 2018, he was honored as a Pioneer of Faith at their 150th anniversary celebration as being the oldest attending member.

Survivors include two sons, William W. Parker of Richmond, Texas, and James B. (Mary) Parker of Sloan, Iowa; grandchildren, Megan (Travis) Chizek of Ida Grove, Iowa, Joanna (Alex) Konczal of Alfred, Maine, Mitchell (Megan Larkin) of Sloan, Iowa, and William W. Parker, Jr. of Richmond, Texas; great-grandchildren, Cal and
Jack Chizek of Ida Gove, Iowa, and Rose and James Konczal of Alfred, Maine; one sister, Elizabeth Bay of Sun City, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine Yuvonne “Bonnie” Parker; parents, Horace and Alice (Brenden) Parker; brother, Sgt. Milton H. Parker; and three sisters, Imogene (Carl) Anderson, Margaret (William) Hoelzle, and Dorothy Hubert.

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