Jesse E. Parr (1918-2011)

PARR, HARRAND, GLASSCOCK, RIEFF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

Jesse Parr
24 Feb 1918 - 19 April 2011
Maxwell

Jesse E. Parr, 93, of Maxwell, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa, of congestive heart failure. Jesse was born February 24, 1918 to William J. and Lillie Harrand Parr in Maxwell, Iowa.

Jesse attended Maxwell High School, where he graduated in 1936 as the class salutatorian. He actively farmed the family farm until his retirement in 1988.

One of Jesse's passions in life was the Community Historical Museum in Maxwell which he helped to found in 1963. He remained curator of the museum until about 2006 when his health forced him to step down. He loved to take school children through the museum explaining about the different exhibits that were there.

One of Jesse's other passion's in life was rock, and fossil hunting. He especially enjoyed hunting for Geodes. He was a member of the Ames Rock and Mineral Club for many years. He loved to cut and polish many of the beautiful rocks he found, putting them in display cases or making jewelry with them. He loved to take his niece and nephew on many of his rock hunting expeditions.

Jesse also loved the art of stained glass, making several windows for the Loring United Methodist Church in Maxwell, and making many other stained glass items.

Jesse loved everything and anything about nature. He had collections of insects, butterflies, Indian arrow heads, and barbed wire. He was an amateur taxidermist. He also loved astronomy and going to Baxter to look through the big telescope the park had there.

Jesse had a dry wit and loved playing jokes on people. He loved to create humorous sculptures out of old machinery parts and junk he found.

Jesse was a man who put other's needs above his own, helping family, neighbors, friends and church members. He has definitely left his mark in the Maxwell community and on the people who knew and loved him.

Jesse is survived by his niece, Margaret (Mike) Glasscock of Brimfield, IL; his nephew, John (Heidi) Rieff of Plano, TX, and two great-nieces, Amanda and Samantha Rieff of Plano, TX.

Per Jesse's wishes, he has been cremated. A Celebration of Jesse's life will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Loring United Methodist Church, 8400 Northeast 150th Ave., Maxwell, IA 50161 with burial of the cremated remains to follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to The Community Historical Society at Maxwell, 520 Maxwell St., Maxwell, IA 50161. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 03 May 2011.