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Leland R. Parsons Wisconsin Rapids, WI QCWA # 22333 Chapter 174 |
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis./LA CROSSE — Leland R. Parsons (Lee-W9TQD), 87, formerly of 1640 6th St. S., Wis. Rapids, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse with his family at his side.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church in Wis. Rapids; preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The Rev. Marty Williams will officiate. Burial will be in Plainfield Cemetery.Leland was born Sept. 17, 1923, in Plainfield, Wis., son of Roy and Vada Parsons. He attended the University of Wisconsin for Engineering after High School, but his education was interrupted by WWII where he served in the Army Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller.
At the end of the War he married Lucille Rose Olson in Almond, Wis., on May 9, 1946. He and Lucille opened up a neighborhood grocery store, Parsons’ Grocery, after marriage and they operated this as a family business along with his parents Roy and Vada. Parsons’ Grocery was a neighborhood icon for over 40 years. Not only could you get groceries, but Lucille also made home-made sandwiches and many students stopped to get help from Leland with their Algebra and Geometry homework. It was a place for many young people to find support and encouragement as Leland and Lucille were extra good at listening. Leland also gave credit for many families so they could buy food in hard times and pay him back as they were able.Leland was a ham radio operator for over 50 years and had lots of friends and activities related to this hobby.He is survived by his daughters, Betty (Allen) Macha of La Crosse, and Judy (Tim) Brickner of Merrill; grandchildren, Jonas, Lloyd (Diane), and Andy (Kristen) all of Merrill, and Angela and Aaron (Jessica) Macha of La Crosse; great-grandchildren, Jana, Ben, Duncan, Chord and Giana; sister-in-law, Gloria (Bradley) Westfall of Rudolph, and a special friend, Gene (Janet) Santoski of Wis. Rapids, who stuck with him to the end.He was preceded in death by his son, Tim.Higgins Funeral Home assisted the family with funeral arrangements.
Note: obituary appeared in Lacrosse Tribune