John F. Parker

John Francis Parker, age 88, of Grand Rapids, MI died April 5, 2017 after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann (Kirkpatrick) Parker. Born in Los Angeles, CA on August 17, 1928, the son of Ignatius and Helen Parker, he lived most of his life in Southern California before moving to Grand Rapids in 1998. John graduated from St. Agnes High School in Los Angeles, earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Loyola University in Los Angeles and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. He served as a lieutenant with the United States Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps during the Korean War era.  He was a founding partner at the law firm of Parker and Irwin in Southern California and also the President of Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. After retiring from the practice of law, he served as a judge and then as presiding judge of the Worker’s Compensation Court in San Bernardino, CA. He was a devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend. Survivors include his sister, Sister Mary Augustine, O.P. of the Monastery of the Angels in Karachi, Pakistan; daughter, Kathleen Ann Parker of Seal Beach, CA; son, John Patrick Parker and his wife, Elizabeth of Ada, MI; four grandchildren, Stephanie Parker Ahlstrand (David) of Huntington Beach, CA, Michael Parker Johnson (Vanessa) of Whittier, CA, Madeline Anne Parker and John Francis "Jack" Parker of Ada, MI, and four great-grandchildren, Michael Gabriel Johnson, Olivia Marie Johnson, David Parker  Ahlstrand and Elle Lingwall Ahlstrand. The family will receive friends at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church on Monday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 10th at St. Robert of Newminster Parish, 6477 Ada Dr. with Fr. Leonard Sudlik as Celebrant.  

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