James Parker

James Howard Parker, son of William Howard & Marian Gertrude Leib Parker, was born on June 5, 1934, in Cedar County, Iowa. He was a 1952 graduate of Stanwood High School. Jim was united in marriage to Roberta Louise Phelps on August 13, 1960 in West Branch. Jim was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, VFW, American Legion and past member of Knights of Columbus. He served in the US Navy as a medic and in the US Marine Corp. during the Korean War. Jim worked in sheet metal maintenance at the Rock Island Arsenal, retiring in 1997. Jim is survived by his wife, Roberta Parker of Tipton, Iowa; his daughters, Elaine Ruth of Tipton, Iowa, Beverly James & husband, Arthur, of El Passo, Texas and Rose Hirt & husband, Joe of Denver, Colorado; son, Robert Stepaneck & wife, Rae of Muscatine, Iowa; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Nancy Albaugh & husband, Ernie of Mechanicsville, Iowa; brother, Gerald L. Parker & wife, Joan of Abilene, Texas; sister-in-law, Marilyn Mathias & husband Gene of West Branch, Iowa; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Phelps & wife, Joanne of Solon, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William. A scholarship memorial fund has been established in honor of Jim for the VFW and VFW Auxilary.