Marvin "Lee" Parks, 75, of Burlington, died Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at his home with his family by his side.
Born April 17, 1948, in Maryville, Mo., he was the son of Beldon and Audrey Ballard Parks.
Lee graduated from Albany High School in Albany, Mo. and attended Regis University. He served in the United States Navy at NAS Cecil Field during the Vietnam Era from 1969 to 1973 as an electronics mechanic. During his time in the Navy Lee received glowing reviews from his seniors regarding his aptness, cleanliness, and leadership skills. He was recommended for advancement in nearly every one of his reviews.
On Sept. 24, 1976, he married Judith Cook at her grandparents’ residence in Burlington. After living in various states, they retired in 2005 and returned to Judy’s family homestead where Lee enjoyed his time tinkering in his shop, working on his tractors and building furniture for the people whom he loved the most. Lee was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church. He inspired those closest to him to seek patience, always give their best effort, and love without bias. He truly was one of a kind, rarely had an unkind word for anyone, and will be deeply missed.
Lee retired as the regional manager for Pizza Hut after 36 years. He began his career at Pizza Hut while in the Navy and worked his way up from being a cook into the Pizza Hut corporation where his work ethic and quality of his work were held in high regard. So much so that when Lee decided to leave the corporate life, he had his pick of where he wanted to work, and for whom he wanted to work as he transitioned back into the franchise side of this business.
He grew up on a farm and had a variety of jobs when younger. He was never afraid of work and spent his youth on the farm honing his mechanical abilities. Lee was an artist, a refined woodworker, furniture builder, he finished houses and restored old cars and tractors. He especially liked restoring tractor and car engines. Lee had a remarkable knack for fixing anything that ever broke without ever having prior knowledge of how to service what he was working on. He often fabricated new parts for things that were broken. There were few things that Lee didn’t know how to do and fewer that he couldn’t figure out when he put his mind to it. He enjoyed fishing, boating, going to the kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events, and their family vacations to the beach in South Carolina. Most of all, he enjoyed the company of the people he called family, blood or not.
Survivors include his wife, Judy of Burlington; son Kristopher (Jessica) Parks of Chaska, Minn.; daughter Kendra Parks of Burlington; adopted sons Cole Parks and Asher Parks of Burlington; four grandchildren Tyler, Peyton, Kinley and Greyson; three brothers Lloyd Parks of Iowa, Larry (Cheri) Parks of Florida and Robert (Tammy) Parks of Georgia; Sister Jerilyn (Randy) Plathe of Iowa; Sisters-in-law Christine Coates of Florida, Marsha Pruisner of Minnesota, Margaret (Henry) Newell of Kentucky, Jeannine (Stephen) Delpit of Florida (fondly called the sister wives) and many nieces and nephews. While in Minnesota Lee and Judy welcomed into their home Antoine Gbonu from Togo West Africa teaching him all about the American way of life and then helping his family immigrate to the United States. Antoine still calls them Mom and Dad.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Dianne Parks.
Per Lee’s wishes, cremation has been accorded and entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel. A celebration of life will be held in April 2024. Inurnment will be at a later date in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
Memorials have been established for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice.