Parks died under Hospice care in Mesa, AZ, on July 2, 2014, after a courageous battle with multiple diseases over the past year and a half. God graciously took him home where he is blessed with complete healing and overwhelming joy in the presence of his Savior Jesus Christ whom he loved and served for so many years.
John was born December 30, 1932, in Claremore, OK, to Harrison and Vera (“Dusty”) Parks. He attended school at Wann, OK, and Coffeyville College in Coffeyville, KS. After serving in the US Army, he entered the relatively new field of computer programming. His computer career took him around the country from Kansas City to Denver, Los Angeles, North Palm Beach, Oklahoma City, and Chicago, as well as on frequent trips overseas. He retired in 1994 from Marsh and McLennan, where he was Vice President of Computer Operations, and moved first to Loveland, CO, then Apache Junction, AZ.
John was a devout Christian who faithfully attended church and served in many different capacities at the various LCMS churches to which he belonged. He especially delighted in studying the Bible, researching Bible-related topics, and teaching adult Bible studies.
He loved playing golf and watching OU Sooner football and basketball, even following the team three times to Hawaii for basketball tournaments. He enjoyed traveling and visited all but one of the fifty United States (North Dakota) and some forty different countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, especially delighting in the archeology, architecture, art, scenery and – of course – food at each location. He even drank the coffee in Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia, which is not for the faint of heart.
John is survived by his wife Joanna, son Mark, daughter-in-law Danette, and four granddaughters Kendra, Courtney, Kaylynn, and Cameron, as well as son Lindsay Parks and daughter Darlene Waggoner from a previous marriage. He is also survived by a sister Ann Mallams.
He was a man of faith, strength, intelligence, humor, and a loving spirit who will be greatly missed. Love never dies.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 807 N. Stapley in Mesa, AZ. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church or to the Van Boven Endowed Scholarship at the Advancement Department, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, 60187.
John Parks was a great man. I worked with him at Hertz. I was Charlie Bell’s secretary. I had total respect for John and everything he did. I know Charlie trusted him completely. My prayers will be offered for him this weekend. Bette Deputy
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already. There’s so much I wish I could have said, could have done if I’d known the truth. You were Mark’s dad all his life and that’s reserved for him, so I’ll just call you Pop.
John Parks was a great man. I worked with him at Hertz. I was Charlie Bell’s secretary. I had total respect for John and everything he did. I know Charlie trusted him completely. My prayers will be offered for him this weekend. Bette Deputy
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already. There’s so much I wish I could have said, could have done if I’d known the truth. You were Mark’s dad all his life and that’s reserved for him, so I’ll just call you Pop.