Willard “Willie” Carl Parpart

Obituary

Willard "Willie" Carl Parpart was born June 11, 1933, in Lester Prairie, to Wilhelm and Emilie Parpart. He was one of 12 children and at the time of his death he was the only surviving member of his family. He was baptized on July 2, 1933 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie and was later confirmed on March 30, 1947 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie. Willie graduated from Lester Prairie High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Korea and Tokyo, Japan from 1953-1955.

On August 20, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart Barbara Thiel of Lester Prairie at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in Lester Prairie and shared over 62 years of love and friendship.

Willie attended Dunwoody Institute, Hennepin Technical College and Minneapolis Vocational school. He owned his own business for several years before retiring in 1995 from Metro Engineering.

Willie was an active member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served as elder and chairman. He was also a member of the Lester Prairie American Legion Post #463 since 1959.

Willie loved to golf and spent many days on the links. If not on a golf course, he would be found at the “19^th Hole” – the family cabin in Annandale, MN. He enjoyed the lake views, boat rides, yard games and bonfires with his kids, grandkids, great grandkids, extended family and friends.

Willie and Barb’s travel adventures took them to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Hawaii, Italy and several islands in the Caribbean. They also enjoyed spending several winter months in Texas and Arizona perfecting his golf game, shuffleboard and cards.

His greatest love was time spent with his family. Whether it was singing songs to the grandkids on the guitar he taught himself to play, teaching poker to his then 6 and 4-year old granddaughters, fixing the sons-in-law the perfect Manhattan, golf with his grandsons, watching hundreds of sporting/school events of his family, long pontoon cruises, cabin projects where we laughed more than we got work done, bean bag toss contests, card games, silly jokes and hearing him laugh - to being there for every one of his family members - always.

Willie’s spirit lives on through his wife, Barb; daughters Patti Schwartz (Don), Sherri Ruesink (Rick) and Kelli Parpart. Grandchildren Jenni Steingas (Charlie), Jacki Rightler (Jesse), Josi Boll (Wes), Jon Schwartz (Jenny), Madison Ruesink and Sydney Ruesink. Great grandchildren Zach, Will, Ben, Nora, Harper, Lydia, Henry, Meredith, Graham and Natalie.