A Funeral Service for Thomas D. Parks, age 74, of Spirit Lake, was held on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Interment was in the Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Okoboji.
Thomas Dean Parks was born in LeMars, Iowa, to Dean and Marjorie (Hughes) Parks on April 8th, 1949. He attended elementary school at Union and graduated from Remsen Union in 1967, where he enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. Tom was baptized and confirmed at First United Methodist Church in LeMars. He attended Iowa Lakes Community College, Minnesota State University, and received his bachelor’s degree in business from Westmar University. While attending college he worked with his dad at the Remsen Roller Mill, which began his career with Kent Feeds.
Tom married Carol Braesch on the 22nd of May 1982, and adding to the family was the blessing of Carol’s three daughters: Laura, Krista, and Carey. They made their home in Spencer, IA where they lived for 26 years. Tom was working for Kent Feeds as a District Sales Manager, which he did for 30-plus years. He held a position on the Sales Advisory Committee and District Sales Manager Honor Council with Kent Feeds. He was an active Member of Toastmasters, and later in life a member of SGOWA (Senior Golfers Out Wandering Around). In 2008,Tom and Carol fulfilled their dream; they moved to Spirit Lake to the home that they designed and built on East Lake Okoboji to further enjoy retirement. He enjoyed boating with the kids and teaching his grandchildren how to fish, family fishing trips, golfing, traveling, and playing cards with friends and family. Even as a child, Tom was a prankster. Throughout his life, he loved joking around and never missed an opportunity to make people laugh. He also had a love for his antique tractors, showing them at Threshermen’s and the family-owned ’64 Impala, which brought back memories of the one he owned when he was younger. Most of all he loved being a Papa to his 15 grandchildren.
Thomas D. Parks passed away on August 26th, 2023, at the age of 74, in his daughter’s home in Milford, Iowa, surrounded by loved ones after a several-year-long battle with Parkinson’s and Dementia.
Tom was preceded in death by his mother,Marjorie Parks; his father,Dean Parks; and his daughter,Laura Grove.
He is survived by his wife,Carol Parks of Spirit Lake, IA; his daughters,Krista (Colt) Berger of Milford, IA, and Carey – Fritz(Matt) Jones of Primghar, IA; his grandchildren – Dakota (Danielle) Grove, Marisa (Cody Porter) Grove, Alli Grove, Logan (Laura Gregoire) Grove, Grace Winter, Tanner (Callie) Manwarren, Cale (Sarah) Pell, Blake Manwarren, Caitlyn Berger, Josie Brown, Lily Brown, Abby Jones, Lindsay Jones, Mia Jones, and Morgan Jones; his Sisters,Kay Augustine of Remsen, IA, and Pat Wingert of Naperville, IL; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Turner Jenness Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
