Obituaries

Eldon F. Parrott

PORTAGE – Eldon Frederick Parrott died at age ninety-two on May 16, 2017, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.  He was born on the family farm near Endeavor WI on January 2, 1925, to Alfred Henry Parrott and Marion Francis (Brancel) Parrott. 
He was preceded in death by his parents, his step mother Nellie (Doughty) Parrott and by siblings and in-laws Edith (Owen Owens), Edward, Elwyn Gay, Dorothy (who died in infancy), James, Grace (William Schultz), and Francis.  He is survived by his sister Thelma Gay (his much loved sister who was the other redhead in an otherwise dark-haired family), and in-laws Pat Parrott, Katie Parrott and June Parrott.  He is also survived by a multitude of nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.
He and his siblings were quite a team (swimming and fishing in the Neenah Creek, exploring the land they all grew to love, hunting, singing together, story-telling, competing and working).  They spent as much time as possible together as adults, gathering for campfires, Sunday dinners, and the annual family picnic, a tradition now about 100 years old.
Eldon began college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after graduating from Endeavor High School with the hope of becoming a doctor.  But it was necessary to return to farming after less than one semester due to WWII.  He would not have a chance to return to college until his mid-thirties.
On November 18, 1944, Eldon married Marlys Gasch.  They met at Endeavor High School, where she was a new teacher and he a recent graduate.  Together they had five children.  Patricia (Douglas) Cook, Linda (Ryan) Haywood, Brian (Karen Halfmann) Parrott, Diane (Vance Hoskins) Parrott-Hoskins, and Bruce (Karen) Cook-Parrott.  Brian preceded him in death due to melanoma in 2007. 
He is survived by eleven grandchildren from his marriage to Marlys:  John (Sheeba) Cook, Elizabeth (Shenyeh) Cook-Shen, Mike Cook (Rhonda Berg), Colin Haywood, Evan Haywood, Kameko Halfmann (Jake Kurczek), Keegan Parrott, Danielle (Anthony LaJoye) Hoskins-LaJoye, Michael Hoskins, Marlee Cook-Parrott, and Sam Cook-Parrott plus four great grandchildren (Cassius Cook, Gideon Cook, David Hoskins Oshinski, and Aedan Cook-Shen).  He was preceded in death by grandson Brendan Haywood. He often said that when he looked at his grandchildren, he was confident that the future was in good hands. 
Marlys and Eldon worked hard farming and providing for their family.  Both were involved in many community activities, including school board, 4-H, the Adams-Marquette Electric Cooperative, Odd Fellows/Rebekahs as well as in leadership roles in the Briggsville United Methodist Church.
Eldon never lost his dream to attend college and in his mid-thirties, he began attending the School of Commerce at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He finished four years of college in three years; he was elected to two honors fraternities.  One of his proudest moments was when he received the Alfred P. Sloan scholastic scholarship.
Upon graduation in 1961, the family moved to Michigan to begin his second career as Product Planning Analyst for Ford Motor Company’s Tractor Division.  His life-long affinity for detail and numbers was put to work while keeping him close to the world of farming.  His years in Michigan were spent developing his career, with Marlys teaching mostly math classes at the high school.  They were active in the St. Paul United Methodist Church, where Eldon spent years as church treasurer. 
In 1978, Marlys was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease she died from on August 1, 1980.  Eldon cared for her during her illness with a devotion and love that remains an example for all of us.  Eldon felt a great attachment to Marlys’ brothers and their spouses as well as to their many nieces and nephews.
On April 3, 1982, Eldon married Beverly Powers Koeber, whom he met at church.  Through this union he gained three step children: Scott (Lois) Koeber, Maribeth (Steve) Constantine, Brett (Sandy Thompson) Koeber, and another eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. 
Eldon and Beverly retired while in their fifties and enjoyed traveling to at least seventeen different countries.  They wintered in Florida for over thirty years where they were active in the Swiss Village neighborhood.  Eldon was in charge of the Winter Haven AARP income tax operation for many years.  He loved doing taxes and, ever competitive, was proud when he took the tax preparer’s exam at age 80, scoring 100%.  
In 1992, Eldon and Beverly moved to rural Wisconsin.  Eldon is survived by Beverly.
Eldon moved to Tivoli Assisted Living in 2014, one year after Bev.  He devoted his days to spending time with her and being her advocate.  Special thanks to Karolyn and Kari and the staff at Tivoli for their loving care.   
Eldon taught us many lessons in life.  He was devoted to family, community and church.  He was gentle, trustworthy, solid, direct, independent, a good friend, a good worker, full of pride, and caring for all people.  He epitomized the word integrity.  He was also determined, some might even say stubborn!  He LOVED his pie and ice cream and when asked his favorite pie, he would respond, “pie”.  He also could not pass up a dish of beans. 
He taught us to stand up straight, to possess a firm handshake, to try harder when we failed, to think for ourselves, and to work hard.  He was a wise man and we will miss him.
A memorial service will be held on June 25, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at Briggsville United Methodist Church.  The family will receive visitors at twelve noon.  The service will be followed by a reception / luncheon at the church.
For those wishing to make memorial donations, the family is grateful and suggests: Tivoli Assisted Living, 2805 Hunter’s Trail, Portage, WI  53901, or Briggsville United Methodist Church, W8608 State Rd. 23, Briggsville, WI  53920.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)