Funeral services for Jack Parish will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, June 16, 2025 at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 15 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Interment is at Evergreen Cemetery in Emmetsburg.
Jack Alan Parish was born on September 9, 1944 in Portland Maine to John Charles Parish and Francis Alberta (Highsmith) Parish. Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep early on June 1, 2025.
As a baby Jack’s mother took him by train to California while his dad traveled to California via U.S. Navy tugboat through the Panama Canel. After their time in California, they returned to Emmetsburg.
Jack’s family moved to several different homes and farms during his childhood. He started school in Emmetsburg, then Graettinger for some mid elementary, then Estherville for some high school, and then back to Emmetsburg for the rest of his schooling. Jack also took special training to be a janitor.
As a youth Jack was involved with Wallingford Boy Scouts and showed dairy cattle through 4-H at the Estherville fair.
Jack always wanted to be busy doing something. Mowing lawns and selling night crawlers was on his list. He loved to fish and spent many happy hours fishing Five Island Lake.
As a young man Jack started working with the Open Door School, which changed into Willing Workers. His dad was in on the planning of Willing Workers to give their clients something to keep hands busy. Willing Workers evolved into Horizon’s over the years. Jack worked at Joyces in the kitchen breading chicken and doing dishes. Later he worked at the can redemption center.
Jack’s three favorite activities were bowling, playing softball, and attending the Spencer Fair. He never liked missing any of these activities. Watching the Cubs, Twins and Viking games became a life long passion. Whenever Horizon planned an outing, Jack was always first in line to go, especially for a trip to see the Twins or a trip to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater.
Jack loved to travel which started as a young boy with Tom on a train to see Uncle Eldon in Chicago. He was always up for trips to California and Wisconsin to see cousins and family. Other trips taken to Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, and Illinois. He was always ready for a trip to West Battle Lake for fishing with Tom and family.
After his mother Alberta passed, he joined the Harson family for special holidays and celebrations. Jack lived in an apartment by himself with help from Horizon’s. After ten years, he moved into a Horizon’s group home where he made many friends. He enjoyed the constant company and was always out talking with the staff. He spent fifteen years at the group home before moving to the Emmetsburg Care Center.
Facebook communication with family and friends was very important to Jack. You might even get a call at 2:00 a. m. Everyone was Jack’s friend and he always knew the latest information about the happenings in Emmetsburg.
Jack is survived by his brother, Tom (Pauline) Parish; sister, Elizabeth (Tom) Lawrence; nieces and nephews, Blaine (Rebecca) Parish, Jon (Terra) Parish, Michelle (Eric) Baer, David Lawrence, Kathryn (Bryan) Bennett, Natalie Lawrence, and Jacob Lawrence; great nieces and nephews, Brandon Parish, Noah Parish, Jordan Starrett, Maddison (Ivan) Lezama and Lorenzo, Lana Bennett, and Max Bennett.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alberta Parish; grandparents, Augusta and step grandfather, Clair Church, John Parish, Sr., and Herbert and Agnes Highsmith; and a nephew, Kyle Parish.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com
