Richard Harold "Dick" Parker

PARKER Richard Harold Age 77, of Roseville Passed away surrounded by family after a long battle with heart failure and lung disease. Preceded in death by father Harold L. and mother Josepha G. Parker, brother Jim Parker, and niece Nora Longley. Survived by wife Debra Parker; daughters Laurie Parker (Thomas Hutton), Sarah Parker (Andrew Lansford), and Amy (Paul) Shanafelt; siblings Mary Jo (John) O’Hearn, Nance (Brian) Longley, and Bob Parker; grandchildren Aline, William, Mae, Fergus and Ada; and many nieces and nephews. Deeply connected to his family--Dick loved and was proud of his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. A devoted son to his parents, close with his sisters and brothers. A loyal and caring friend who stayed in touch with many people from the different stages of his life. A storyteller with a sharp wit and quirky sense of humor, who could engage anyone in a conversation. Dick graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, IL in 1960. Working on the school newspaper sparked his interest and inspired him to choose journalism as his major at the (then) College of St. Thomas, where he was a member of the yearbook staff and the Tiger Club. He spent his distinguished 37 year career at the Star Tribune as an editor and writer. Over the years, he worked in the newsroom, copy edited, wrote, and curated the Books and Games magazine and the Retro and Minnesota Made columns, among others. “Doc” was respected by colleagues, honored by the Minnesota Newspaper Guild with several Page One awards for clever headlines and layouts, and is remembered fondly by those who worked with him for his editorial skill, thoughtfulness and mentorship. Dick was an accomplished self-taught musician who found great joy playing banjo, guitar, and occasionally singing with church choirs and various folk and traditional jazz bands in the Twin Cities, including The Strictly People, The Better-Than-Nothing Dirt Band, The Reggie Hacksenflax Society Dance Band, The Mouldy Figs, The Banjo Bandits, Red Beans and Rice, and most recently The Pig’s Eye Jass Band. He was also a skilled avocational photographer with a lifelong love of documenting both the beauty and the absurdity of the world around him, serving as visual and written historian of family and life events. He was an avid collector of cameras and banjos, amassing a wealth of knowledge about both that he loved to share with others, and a maker of things beautiful and strange: Weenr sticks, match-head rockets, electronic oddities, surrealist movies, satirical writings, stained glass art, and photoshopped pictures. All are welcome for a memorial celebration of life on SATURDAY Dec. 28, 4-8 pm at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #34 in Minneapolis, 2507 E. 25th St, Minneapolis. 4-5pm open house with appetizers. 5-6pm dinner and music by members of the Pig’s Eye Jazz Band and friends. 6-6:30pm eulogies and memories. 6:30-7pm Dick Parker documentary. 7-8pm social hour. Private interment at the family homestead in Wisconsin this summer. Please direct memorials to support MinnPost ( https://www.minnpost.com/support ) and Jazz88 ( http://www.jazz88.fm/support/ ) and https://appetiteforchangemn.org/donate/ https://vimeo.com/211011663