John C. "Jack" Parsons 1925-2013

PARSONS, DARRAH, WALLIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/12/2013 at 11:06:03

Sioux City Journal
8 February 2013

SIOUX CITY | John C. "Jack" Parsons, 87, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at his residence.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., a prayer service at 7 p.m. and with military rites conducted by the U.S. Air Force, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Jack was born on June 23, 1925, the son of Curtis and Rose (Darrah) Parsons, in Lincoln, Neb. Jack entered the service at the age of 17. Jack served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-17 tail gunner during World War II. His duty was originally to fly 27 missions over Germany, but with the causalities suffered in the air campaign, Jack's bomb group ended up flying 35 missions. Jack was recalled during the Korean conflict as a trainer and was able to stay state side during the conflict.

He was married to Doris Wallin on Nov. 12, 1949, in Wahoo, Neb. After his Korean duties, Jack came home and started his family. Jack built roads, houses and dams in the tri-state area before getting into sales. Jack worked with his father at Sioux City Excavating, then as manager of Anderson Equipment Co. In 1986, he started Parsons Equipment Co. with his son, Doug. His other son, Jim, joined Parsons Equipment in 1994.

His hobbies included golf, woodworking, and hunting and fishing in his earlier years. Jack and Doris enjoyed many winters in Arizona. Jack was a disaster chairman for the Red Cross and past member of Sioux City Boat Club which became the Dakota Dunes.

Jack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris; son, Doug of Sioux City; daughter, Jane Randall and husband, Tony of Sioux City; daughter-in-law, Blythe Parsons-Skinner of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11 grandchildren, Eli, Luke and Brenna Parsons, Jon, Jeff, Jake (Allison) Parsons, Jill (Bill) Osterberg, Jessica, Emily, Rebecca, and Megan Randall; two sisters, Joann Berggren of Sioux City, and Pat Sass of Lincoln, Neb.; and a brother, Bill (Nancy) Parsons Littleton, Colo.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and two sons, Donald in 1968 and Jim in 2009.

Special thanks to the caring people of Hospice, Pallative Care of Siouxland, and Sissy of Well Home. Their help enabled our family to keep Jack at home until his death.

A memorial will be established in Jack's name.