GALEN PARSONS

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Galen Brock Parsons, 93, of Bettendorf, formerly of Fort Dodge, passed away on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009.

The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel with burial following at Oak Grove Cemetery, Lehigh, Iowa. The visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Galen was born on July 26, 1916 on a farm near Prairie City, Iowa. He graduated from the Newton High School in Newton, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 in World War II in the European Theatre, including service in California, Texas, England, France and Germany. Galen married Verla Ford in Pasadena California on Aug. 17, 1942. He worked as a manager in the county engineer's office of Webster County from 1950 to 1978. Prior to this he worked for Brady Motor Frieght, Montgomery Ward and a manager of Western Union in Dubuque and Fort Dodge.

He graduated with a degree in business administration from Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo. Galen was a former little league coach, assistant cub master, president of the band booster club at Fort Dodge High School. He was also president of the 4-fun camping club and president of the Badger 39ers club, and was in various bowling leagues. He was secretary treasurer of the Wahkonsa Kiwanis Club and was in the Monday Kiwanis Club, was president and secretary treasurer of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and was a delegate to the Kiwanis International Convention in Toronto, Canada and in Minneapolis, Minn. Galen was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge. He was president of the Sunday school class, was on the board of social concerns, board of trustees and the Pastoral Relations board. He and Verla celebrated 50 years of marriage on Aug. 17, 1992 at First United Methodist Church.

Galen is survived by his son William (Nadine) Parsons of Bettendorf, Iowa; daughter in-law Jeanne Parsons of Fort Dodge; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Verla and son Larry.

Memorials may be left to the family for their further discretion.