Joseph Parnarauskis

DULUTH, Minn. - Joseph J. Parnarauskis was born on March 15, 1954, to Joseph and Irene Parnarauskis, in Danville. He attended Westville High School and graduated in 1972. Joe then went on to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for a year. He then decided to join the workforce and worked for JM Jones in Champaign, where he loaded semis until he decided what to do with his future. In 1984, he graduated from Parkland College in Champaign with an associate of science in nursing. He worked at various hospitals in the Champaign/Urbana area and at the Danville VA Medical Center. In 2001, he received his bachelor of science in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. Joe decided to pursue a career in nursing, working in psychiatry. He worked for 27 years in the Inpatient Adult Behavior Health Unit at Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana until his retirement in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, being with family and friends, reading and politics.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Irene; partner, Mark Haun; and brother-in-law, Charles Gustafson.

Joe leaves behind his sister, Rita Gustafson; stepnieces, Christina (Chad) Duncan and Karissa (Dustin) Rian; and great-nephews, Max and Asher.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Carlton, Minn. A celebration of life and burial for Joe will be held at a later date in Westville. Arrangements are entrusted to Nelson Funeral Care, Cloquet. To sign an online registry, please visit nelsonfuneralcare.net.