Elmer Parkstra
Mr. Elmer D. Parks, 75, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, Indiana. He was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on October 20, 1947, the son of the late Elmer S. and Theo B. (Buzzard) Parks.
Elmer was raised in West Virginia and graduated from Cameron High School in 1965.
On December 2, 1967, he was married to Helen J. (Rethy) Parks in Barton, Ohio; she survives.
He started working as a routeman for Culligan Water Conditioning in Wheeling, WV in 1974 and was quickly promoted to general manager of that store. He later managed stores in Washington, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dayton, Ohio and Anderson, Indiana. In 1993, he and Helen made their way to Lebanon, Indiana when they purchased their own Culligan Water franchise. Later, they purchased additional franchises in Greencastle, Indiana and Frankfort Indiana. In total, Elmer worked as a Culligan man for nearly 50 years and was active in the Water Quality Association, Tri-State Culligan Association, Culligan Dealer Advisory Council and Culligan CDANA. He was always well respected by his Culligan family all across the globe.
Elmer was a faithful member of New Hope Christian Church for nearly 30 years and served as an Elder for more than half of those years. He was most known for leading a life dedicated to serving others and being the hands and feet of Christ. In addition to his service in the church, he was active with the Lebanon Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, Ulen Town Council and many other local organizations.
Elmer loved spending time with Helen whether it was seeing a show at Beef and Boards, going to dinner or taking walks and golf cart rides with his best four-legged buddy Tuxie. He also loved spending time with his kids and grandkids, serving as a mentor with the Boone County Mentoring Partnership, cheering on the Indianapolis Colts and Purdue Boilermakers, driving his purple Jeep and watching birds and squirrels in his backyard.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Parks of Lebanon; children, Terri (Jeff) Lipot of Waynesville, OH, Angela (Cliff) Beard of Mandeville, LA and Craig (Natalie) Parks of Lebanon; grandchildren, Morgan Beard, Brooke (Andrew) Pimental, Kayla (Spencer) Richardson, Brett Beard, Noelle (Grant) Skinner, Christian Parks, Ashtyn Lipot, Isaiah Lipot, Joshua Parks; great granddaughter, Willow Pimental; and brother, Rick (Karen) Parks of Saint Clairsville, OH.
In addition to his parents, Elmer was preceded in death by infant sister, Nancy Carol Parks and grandson, Jonathan David Parks.
Memorial Services are planned for noon on Friday, May 5th, at New Hope Christian Church. Visitation will be held from 10am – 12pm. Myers Mortuary and Boone County Crematory have been entrusted with his arrangements.
Memorials may be directed in Elmer’s memory to The Boone County Mentoring Partnership or The Boone County Cancer Society.
