Duane A. Parkes Jr. 92 of Manistee passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of October 1, 2017 at the Manistee County Medical Care with family nearby.
He was born on February 2, 1925, in Detroit MI to Duane and Florence Parkes. He married Barbara N. Parkes (deceased 1997) on June 28, 1947 in Fremont MI. Duane grew up in Detroit, graduating from Southwestern High School in December 1942.
Upon graduation and while awaiting induction into the United States Navy he attended Wayne State University for one semester. In June 1943 he joined the Navy and was assigned to the V12 program at Central Michigan College in Mt. Pleasant where he met his future wife who, while attending and graduating from Michigan State, was working at Central as a summer secretarial employee. After completion of the V12 program he was assigned to Fort Schuyler New York for Officer Candidate Training. Following his schooling he was assigned to duty in the South Pacific aboard the USS Dayton as a gunnery officer and was eventually trained as a forward observer in preparation for the invasion of Japan. As he said, fortunately the war ended prior to their having to invade Japan from the sea. He served active and reserve duty, being Honorably Discharged from the United States Navy in 1959.
Following active duty he attended the University of Detroit Law School graduating in 1949. He then opened an insurance office and added real estate brokerage a year later. He began performing independent services for Commercial Credit Corporation, eventually being hired fulltime as the Manager of their Muskegon office, at which time he and Barb moved to Fremont. In 1957 he joined Sealed Power Corporation in Muskegon as their Director of Public Relations. With the assistance of the then President of Sealed Power he was hired by Lumberman’s Bank in Muskegon to develop and run a Trust Department. In 1961 based on the recommendation of Manistee/Muskegon resident John Bultema he was interviewed and eventually hired as President of Manistee County Savings Bank.
He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Manistee County Savings Bank/Manistee Bank & Trust from 1961 until its sale to First of America Bank in 1988. During his tenure the Bank’s assets grew from approximately $13,000,000 to $115,000,000, a Trust Department was added and the Bank expanded from two to five offices. In 1969 Duane, Bruce Draper from the State Savings Bank Scottville & Robert Smith from the Lake-Osceola State Bank collaborated to form West Shore Computer Corporation to provide computer processing and services to independent Banks, eventually growing to serve more than a dozen Banks. Professionally Duane served in a number of positions with the Michigan Bankers Association and several terms as a member of the American Bankers National Legislative Committee.
A strong believer in the statement “as the community goes so goes the Bank”, Duane was an active member of the Manistee Community with past memberships in Rotary, Manistee Elks, Manistee Golf & Country Club, Manistee Chamber of Commerce, the Manistee County Industrial Development Corporation, the Tuesday Committee, First Congregational UCC of Manistee, etc. He was recognized as the Jaycee’s Boss of the Year and was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. He was a founding and active member of the Tuesday Committee, which was a private group that challenged property owners to cleanup and fixup their properties. He and other Tuesday Committee members eventually purchased the property and received funding for what is now the Manistee Municipal Marina, which provided some of the initial catalysts for cleaning up the Manistee River Channel banks and the eventual construction of the Riverwalk.
In 1970 three friends, Dominic Naffie, Dave Carlson and Duane Parkes opened the first Jean House in Manistee. Each individual brought a unique set of expertise to the business, working together to see the business expand to 18 stores throughout Michigan, eventually selling the operation to Meijer’s Sagebrush Division.
Upon his retirement Duane and Barbara split their time between Manistee and Sarasota, Florida. Throughout is life Duane really enjoyed watching sports and loyally supported the Detroit sports teams. Several years after Barbara’s passing Duane sold their Florida home and returned to Manistee to be nearer his family.
Duane is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law and their children; Doug & Kellie Parkes of Manistee, children Ashley Parkes of Grand Rapids and Christian Parkes of Ypsilanti. Bruce & Cathy Parkes of Grand Rapids, children Patrick Parkes MBA of Grand Rapids and Dr. Chad (Amanda, BSN) Parkes of Rochester MN. Scott & Cindy Parkes of Winchester, VA, children Brad (Bebe Roland) Parkes of Winchester, VA, Sullivan, PA (USAF Capt. Nick currently assigned to the White House) Doumont and great grandson Sutton of Centerville, OH, Dr. Pressley Parkes of Houston TX, and Blake Parkes, BSN of Charlottesville, VA.
Additionally Duane is survived by his sister Lorraine Large, Tampa FL, brother-in-law & sister-in-law Richard & Joyce Nisbet, Mt Pleasant, MI, sister-in-law Norma Nisbet, St. Joseph, MI, along with numerous nieces and nephews and their extended families.
Recently Duane commented how pleased he was that he was able to live 92+ years, see each of his sons get married, raise their families and pursue successful business careers, experience numerous sporting and academic events of his children and grandchildren, see all eight of his grandchildren graduate from college and pursue their chosen careers and meeting his great grandson.
Due to complications of polio which he was infected with in late 40’s, Duane experienced decreasing mobility and spent the last six plus years of his life at the Manistee County Medical Care. Despite his sometimes gruff exterior and occasional brutal honesty he grew very fond of many of his caregivers. At the risk of missing someone the family doesn’t dare to try to list individual names. Suffice it to say he greatly appreciated the care and attention that was provided to him by entire Medical Care staff and his family strongly echoes those sentiments.
All of Duane’s sons, their wives and families were together for the first time in nearly 20 years just two weeks ago for Chad & Amanda’s wedding. As everyone is spread out across the Country the family is opting to have a private celebration of life at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that in Duane’s memory, and in honor of his grandson Patrick Parkes who is confined to a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy, that any considerations be directed to the Manistee County Medical Care to be applied towards the purchase of a much needed new handicap accessible van. The Medical Center van is used continuously to provide free transportation to residents for attendance of appointments both in and out of town, along with local outings.
At Duane’s request cremation has taken place and he will be interned alongside his wife at Oak Grove Cemetery. Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center has provided all necessary services to the family. Please visit Duane’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com.