Mr. Parker was a U. S. Army veteran and a member of Swansea American Legion Post 2007.
He was a valued employee with the St. Clair County Highway Department for forty years and excelled at evening sales jobs to support his beloved family. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, and took great pride in providing a catholic education for his children. He was an avid Cardinals baseball fan since 1942 and a season ticket holder for 17 years.
Mr. Parker was a highly successful and respected baseball manager, routinely winning championships coaching his sons’ teams and having a positive influence on their friends and families. He was a favorite of his children’s friends and was warmly greeted throughout his life by members of every generation.
Perhaps most notable was the selflessness of this great man. He lived modestly by choice, always putting his family first. A man of action rather than words, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by daughter, Ann Marie; and son, Dean D. Parker; his parents, Edward L. and Mary E., nee Mentel, Parker; six sisters, Anna Marie Pautler, Agnes Sondag, Ethel Prediger, Blanche Schmelzel, Rita Alt, and Martha Mae Parker; and four brothers, Paul, Clarence, William and Edward Parker.
Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Gladys A. Parker, nee Weidemann, whom he married May 21, 1955;
his children, Donald J. Parker of Thousand Oaks, CA, and his son, Adam;
David M. Parker of Studio City, CA;
Daniel L. (Sharon) Parker of North Little Rock, AR, and their children, Brittany, Haley, Mallory, and Matt (Kristi), and their children, Barrett and Brinkley;
Mary A. Barger of Belleville, IL, and her children, Ann (Cullen) and son Parker, Dan, and Charlotte;
Linda A. (Tom) Quiros of Belleville, IL, and their children, Tommy, Michael, and Andrew;
Dennis E. (Julie) Parker of Swansea, IL, and their children, Wyatt, Don, Evan, and Sydney;
Joyce A. (Brian) Michel of Glen Ellyn, IL, and their children, Jessica, Parker, and Sean;
Beverly A. Parker of O’Fallon, IL, and her children, Audrey, Natalie, and Emily;
Derek D. (Rosa) Parker of Glendora, CA, and their children, Karina, Ryan, Hannah, and Bianca;
Dale S. (Melissa) Parker of Belleville, IL, and their children, Auggie, Dash, and Rhett;
and Jon, son of Dean Parker.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville,IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, December 6, 2018, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 7, 2018, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 7, 2018, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Christopher Anyanwu officiating.
Burial with military honors will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.