John M. Parker

John Marvin Parker
1927 – 2017

Born July 31, 1927 in Fairfield, Connecticut, the second child of Reinold Marvin and Amelia Harmon Potter Parker.

John served in the United States Navy during WWII, 1945 and 1946.

A 1947 graduate of William Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a B.S. in Education in 1951. He received a Masters degree in Education from Boston University in 1953.

John married Elizabeth Lee Knowlton on June 22, 1963 in Watertown, New York.

He taught at Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts in 1953-1955. He was a member of the Board of Admissions at Boston University in 1955-1958, and Associate Director of Admissions at Union College, Schenectady, New York in 1958-1964. He was Dean of Students at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, New York in 1964-1966. In 1966 he became Dean of Students at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, Wisconsin, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1989, at which time he was awarded the degree Master of Arts ad eundum by Lawrence University in Appleton. He was with the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1990-1993, and the Fox Cities Children’s Museum in 1993-1997.

He was a proud 50-year member of the 100-year old Rotary Club of Appleton, and its Secretary from 1990-1999. He was a member of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. He was a Past-President of the Wisconsin Career Planning and Placement Association, the Tri-County Recreation Association and the Windfield Condominium Owners Association. He was a member of the Board of Education of the Appleton Area School District for fifteen years, from 1981 to 1996. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Appleton for seven years, serving as Campaign Chairman in 1971. He was a member of the Appleton Parks and Recreation Commission in 1987-1990. He was a graduate of the Appleton Police Department Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy, and a member of the Appleton First Responder Task Force. He was a member and an ordained elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton. He was a volunteer for the Appleton Area School District, Appleton Medical Center, FISH, ROFs, Meals on Wheels and United for Reading Success. He was an avid reader, loved golf and music, and played and coached ice hockey.

He is survived by his family whom he loved very much: Lee, his wife of 54 years; a son Richard Montgomery and daughter-in-law, Frances Bowles Parker, granddaughter Sydney Ruth Parker of Madison, WI; daughter Sarah Lee Parker Mansare and son-in-law and Mamady Mansare of Seattle, Washington and Guinea, West Africa.

He is also survived by his sister, Ann Parker Ricker, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

A visitation for John will be held at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 North Superior Street, Appleton, WI on Friday October 13 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A memorial service for John will be held at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 East College Avenue in Appleton, with Rev. Mike Goodwin officiating, on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Appleton Education Foundation or Appleton Downtown Rotary Foundation