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BORN
1938
DIED
2020
Dean Parker Obituary
Johnston - Dean Parker, 81, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2020, at Bishop Drumm Home in Johnston. Dean was born June 6, 1938, in Canton, Ohio to Pearl (Sydnes) and Gerald Parker.
Dean grew up in Des Moines and was a 1957 graduate of Des Moines Tech High School. He spent many years after school and on Saturdays working at his father's gun shop next to the Randolph Hotel near the Polk County Courthouse. He became a Des Moines fireman where he retired from after thirty years of service. He drove rescue for many of those later years and, although many accident scenes were understandably difficult to forget, he thoroughly enjoyed his role in helping the people he served. After his retirement, he took the required classes in HVAC at DMACC and worked for Sears as a technician. He and his lovely wife, Carole, enjoyed car rides, John Wayne movies and country music—and Dean was actually a pretty good singer. Dean was a caring person and had a great sense of humor.
Dean was preceded in death by his son, Steven (Teresa) of Des Moines. He is survived by his wife, Carole; daughter Debbbie of Des Moines; son Stan (Tami) of Plano, Texas, and also sons Dean, Jr. (Cindy) of Arizona and Mark (Falon) of Iowa; four grandchildren: Lindsey, Jacob, Allen, and Mitch; one great-grandchild, Callie Jane; brothers Dale (Mary) of West Des Moines and Ivan (Patricia) of Ankeny; and brother-in-law Eddie O'Neill of West Des Moines.
Private services will be held with interment at Highland Memory Gardens.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dean Parker
Sponsored by the Des Moines Register.
4 Entries
Jason Davis
March 27, 2020
So sorry to hear of Dean passing. I met him early this year when my father roomed with him At Bishop Drumm. I truly enjoyed his company and our conversations when I was there to visit. Praying for your family - Jason Davis
Jen P
March 25, 2020
My thoughts are with all of you. I feel so very blessed to have Dean crossed my journey in life. Providing care to him was a true gift. He had so many "dad" jokes and stories that I enjoyed. Thank you for letting me care for him.
Myrna Weiland
March 22, 2020
Dear Carole and family. I will miss Dean very much. He and Carole were the first ones we met at our table at McAuley Terrace. We had a lot of good laughs together. He was always cracking jokes and yet very serious about his Lord. Said a prayer each day at the table. I will miss him terribly, and also know he is with Jesus in Heaven. Love, Myrna Weiland
Kelly Parker
March 22, 2020
The Parker Brothers had a great thing going -- Dean, Dale and Ivan would get together on Mondays to solve the world's problems (and occasionally their own). Dean was always a character and he was the one that inherited his father's (Gerald) great storytelling abilities. I remember when Dean would call guys by his favorite nickname -- "SLICK." Rest in Peace Uncle Dean.
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