Harley Parnell Hisner

1926 - 2015

Harley Parnell Hisner, 88, passed away Friday, March 20, 2015, at Park Place Assisted Living. Parnell was born near the small town of Maples Nov. 6, 1926, to Nelson and Edna Hisner.
He lived on a farm with his family, including three older brothers, until graduating from Hoagland High School in 1945. The work on the farm in that era was hard, but it made Parnell and his brothers strong, helping all of them to athletic success. As Parnell often said, they didn't need to work out in a fitness center in those days; doing the chores on the farm was workout enough.
After high school, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. While stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison he met and fell in love with Anna B. Cain; they were married on Jan. 4, 1948. They celebrated their 64th anniversary before Anna died in 2013.
Parnell had signed a baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox in 1945 as a pitcher, but his pro debut was put on hold during his time in the army. After his discharge, he and Anna embarked on a professional baseball odyssey that took them all over the country during the seven years Parnell spent in the Boston organization. The highlight of his pro career was the game he pitched for the Red Sox against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium in 1951.
After Leaving pro baseball, Parnell Played semi-pro and amateur baseball in the Fort Wayne area for many years, and in 1976 he was elected to the Northeast Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. He worked 41 years as a machinist for Rea Magnet Wire until his retirement in 1987. Later he worked part-time for Maples Ag concept and Commercial Warehouse.
He was a member of Maples United Methodist Church, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, the American Legion Post 420 (Monroeville) and the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association.
Among survivors are his daughters, Deborah A. (Gary) Spry of Monroeville and Beverly J. Hoffman of Hoagland; son, Randy P. (Cheryl) Hisner of Decatur; eight grandchildren, Angela Spry, Joshua (Jennifer) Gibson, Trisha Spry, Erik (Jessica) Hisner, Ashley (Brian) Brames, Ryan Hisner, Shane Hisner and Gavin Hisner; and seven great-grandchildren, Lily Brames, Taylor Davis-Gibson, Emmett Gibson, Kaydence Thompson, Blakeley Hisner, Evelyn Gibson and Brayden Hisner.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; sister, Marvine; three grandchildren, Adam Gibson in 1995, John Gibson in infancy and Jennifer Spry in infancy; and three brothers, Rowland, Gerald and Gordon.
The two loves of Parnell's life were his family and baseball. Anna, whom Parnell called his "biggest fan and best friend," shared those loves. They enjoyed many years of watching their son and grandchildren play baseball and softball. They also enjoyed spreading their love of the Red Sox to the entire family, a love that reached a peak in 2012 when the Red Sox invited all of their former players to the centennial celebration of Fenway Park. When he walked onto the field at Fenway that day, it was one of his and his family's proudest moments.
Funeral services are at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, Monroeville. Burial will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, New Haven.
Visitation will be from 2-4 and 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to Maples United Methodist Church or Northeast Indiana Baseball Association.
Online condolences may be made at www.zwickjahn.com.