Norman Parks

LODI - Norman L. Parks, Jr, age 79, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at the Ellen and Peter Johnson HospiceCare Residence in Fitchburg. Born May 24, 1931, in Charleston, WV, to Norman and Frances (Gilchrist) Parks, he was the oldest of five children. Norman was a 1949 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, WV, after which his family moved to Lodi (Okee), Wisconsin. Norman worked at Farmers Mutual Insurance from 1950 to 1956. He served from 1952 to 1954 as a sergeant in the US Army during the Korean War, earning the Korean Service Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, and National Defense Service Medal. In 2002 he was award the Public of Korea Service Medal by the government of South Korea. He married the love of his life, Judith (Soucy) Parks on June 1, 1957. Norman and Judy lived in Okee, Wisconsin where they raised five children. They owned and operated Norms Beer Depot from 1963 to 1978. Norm also retired from the US Postal Service after 30+ years of service. Preceding him in death were his wife, Judith in 2010; his parents, Norman and Frances Parks; and two brothers, Raymond and Marion. He is survived by five children, Diane (Mike) Crawford, Nancy (Ken) Pales, Susan Atkinson, Wanda Glubka, and Richard (Jean) Parks; ten grandchildren, Evan Zeimet, Danielle and Ben Crawford, Christina and Brittany Pales, Kelsy Atkinson, Michelle Glubka, Robert Stewart, Christopher and Mitchell Parks; three stepchildren, Kristopher (Jamie), Tonya and Zachariah Maier, three step great grandchildren, Colin, Aidan and Ryan Maier; brother Daniel Parks and sister Jane (Jerry) Quam. Norm is also survived by many wonderful in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2011 at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH in Lodi, with the Rev. Michael Lee officiating. Visitation will be held from noon until the service at the church. Interment with military rites will be at Garden Bluff Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg. The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the staff at HospiceCare for their wonderful care provided to Norman. Norman was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, Brother-in-Law and Uncle. He will be greatly missed by all the lives he touched.