John R. Parmeter

John R. Parmeter, 91, of Keokuk, died at 4:30 AM Saturday, December 17, 2011, at River Hills Village in Keokuk. John Parmeter was born December 31, 1919, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of John P. and Ora M. Ellis Parmeter. He married Mary Kathleen Cummings on January 6, 1945, at Burlington, Iowa. She survives. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a B24 pilot in the China-Burma-India Theater. He was employed by Crescent Electric and after moving to Keokuk in 1951 he worked for Rupley Electric. He later owned Parmeter Electric until retiring in 1983. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and had served as choir director at St. Mary and St. Francis Catholic Churches. Music was a large part of his life and he sang at many weddings and was a former member of the K-Tones. He is survived by his wife Mary Kathleen Parmeter; seven sons, Thomas E. Parmeter and wife Brigitte of Ennepetal, Germany, Richard J. Parmeter of Keokuk, John M. Parmeter and wife Anita of Des Moines, Iowa, Peter R. Parmeter of Keokuk, William P. Parmeter of Ft. Meyers, Florida, James T. Parmeter and wife Rose of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Robert G Parmeter of Pflugerville...[more]

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exas; five daughters, Maryann Walker of Charlotte, North Carolina, Margaret M. Parmeter of Houston, Texas, Kathleen M. Kinney of Solon, Iowa, Maureen E. Hamilton and husband Mike of Houston, Texas and Mary Patricia Stolley of Iowa City, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren and three step grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and three step great grandchildren; brother Edward Parmeter of Milan, Illinois and sister Kathryn Dean of Davenport, Iowa. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, Charles and George Parmeter and two sisters, Marian Powell and Martha Bloom. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, December 22, 2011, at All Saints Catholic Church with. Rev. Robert Lathrop officiating. Burial with full military rites will follow at Keokuk National Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Center at 1212 Concert from 6 to 8 PM. Christian Wake will be at 8:00 PM Wednesday with Deacon Bill Cosgrove officiating. Memorials are suggested to All Saints Catholic Church or Keokuk Catholic Schools.