John Parsons

John R. Parsons, Jr., was born to John and Virginia Parsons on January 4, 1933 in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Lincoln High School in January 1950. He joined the Marines and after boot camp in San Diego, was sent to Korea, where he lost an arm and a leg in combat. He spent 1 ½ years in the hospital in Oakland, California and then returned to Des Moines. On October 20, 1957 he was married to Jane Collins at Humboldt, Iowa John worked for Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and Hawkeye Insurance Co. He and his family moved to Estherville, Iowa in 1959 and bought an insurance agency which became John Parsons Insurance for 25 years. John was a Master Mason and Shriner, a Life Member of the VFW, DAV and American Legion. He loved hunting, golf, and boating on Spirit Lake. John and his wife, Jane, were married for almost 51 years and had 3 sons, John III, Steve and Daniel. Left to cherish his memory are his wife and 3 sons; 7 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and 2 sisters, Joan Reirson and Corrine McGee. Preceding John in death were his parents, John and Virginia, a sister, Barbara Williamson and grandson Ronnie Staebell.