Patrick J. Parsley

Patrick J. Parsley, 51, of 513 Pine Street, Marquette, died early Sunday morning, April 19, 2009 at his home after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. Patrick was born on November 2, 1957 in Iowa City, Iowa, a son of the late James and Constance Gladys Jean (Cook) Parsley and was a 1976 graduate of Westwood High School in Sloan, Iowa. Pat proudly served his country with the United States Air Force as a jet engine mechanic, retiring from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska in September of 2000. He served his country for 24 years, 13 of those years at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. He and his wife, Christie, moved to Marquette in October of 2001 where Pat graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering technology. He was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church and was active in the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement with his wife. Pat was the local chairman of the Ruffed Grouse Society. He had a passion for hunting, fishing, camping and motorcycling and was also a certified motorcycle safety instructor. Pat was a member of St. Christopher Knights of Columbus Council #13333 as well as Bishop Baraga the Snowshoe Priest Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his loving wife, the former Christie Paveglio, whom he married on August 19, 1994 at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette; two step-daughters, Barbara Ann (Paul) Conwell of Schaumburg, IL and Billie Mae (Gerry) Neher and their daughter, Natalie Serena Neher of Marquette; one brother, Michael Jon (Linda Prendergast) Parsley of Underwood, WA; his step-mother, Twyla Mowery Parsley of Smithland, IA; a step-sister, Ronelle Marnell of Smithland, IA; also several aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends may call at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. where a parish prayer service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:30 a.m. in St. Christopher Catholic Church with Rev. Jeff Johnson officiating and Deacon Steve Gualdoni assisting. Interment will take place in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Members of St. Christopher Knights of Columbus Council #13333 will act as escorts and members of Bishop Baraga the Snowshoe Priest Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will provide an honor guard.