Gearold Parks

Funeral services for Gearold Parks, 88, of Melcher-Dallas, will be Tuesday, January 13,
2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas.  Family will
receive friends prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Interment will be at the Dallas
Cemetery. A luncheon will be served following the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Melcher-Dallas Fire Department, Dallas Christian
Church, or Homestead Memory Care in Chariton.

Gearold Irwin Parks was born on December 5, 1937, in Numa, Iowa to Norma Ruth
Parks. He was raised by his grandparents, Ona and Ada Parks in Numa. 

In 1960, Gary was united in marriage to Helen Heinmiller. They were together for 64
years, and together they raised their sons: Gearold, Douglas, and Randy. 

Gary worked at Penn-Dixie Cement in Des Moines for 23 years. next the family moved
to Melcher-Dallas, where Gary worked for the City of Melcher-Dallas for 18 years. He
also volunteered at the Melcher-Dallas Fire Department for 20 years. He made many
special friends there.

The family endured the loss of sons, Gearold and Randy, and daughter-in-law, Patty.
Their faith in God carried them through and continued to be a very important part of life.
Gary and Helen were active in the Methodist Church for many years and then attended
the Dallas Christian Church the last few years.

Gary greatly loved and enjoyed his family. He and his family got to enjoy special time
with his mother after they moved her to Melcher. And many family trips were taken to
Arkansas and Texas to spend cherished time with Helen's family. He had a lot of good
times with his sons and grandchildren and their families.

Gary also enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, attending sprint car races, and having
coffee time with special friends at D&S in Melcher.

With the loss of Helen and struggles of dementia, Gary's Christian Church family
showed great compassion and kindness, and helped the family take care of him. Later,

when Gary was moved to Chariton Homestead Memory Care, he was shown great
compassion and was truly accepted as family.  Many thanks to everyone who has
helped him!

Gearold passed away, Friday, January 9, 2026. He will be greatly missed by son, Doug
(Lora Goff) Parks; grandchildren: Abby (Justin) Masters and Joshua (Aspen) Parks;
great grandchildren: Josh Masters and Walker Parks; and sisters-in-law: Melinda
(Bobby) Irby and Teresa (Chris) Wilson; along with many relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Helen; sons: Gearold Parks Jr., and Randy Parks;
daughter-in-law, Patty Parks; sister-in-law, Judith Heinmiller; and brother-in-law, David
Heinmiller.