Memorial
Thomas A. Parks, 86, died peacefully on September 9, 2016, from complications of Parkinson's Disease.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at First Congregational Church with visitation from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Stateroom. Private family interment will take place at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
Tom was born November 4, 1929, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to a single mother and was placed in an orphanage. He was taken in by Jon and Marion Parks and became a part of their family at the age of 4. When Tom was 7 years old, Marion Parks died and Tom moved to Iowa to live with his uncle and aunt, Floyd and Gladys Parks and their 3 daughters. He would ride the train each year to spend his summers with Jon Parks in Ohio. Tom was legally adopted by Floyd and Gladys Parks at the age of 42 in 1971.
Tom graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1946. He studied music and teaching at the Teacher’s College (UNI) for 2 years and was told he was not “teacher material” and encouraged to transfer University of Iowa, which he did. He met Anne Meek at the University of Iowa and they were married. His education was interrupted when he joined the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a navigator who flew long range missions out of Sacramento, California, aboard B-29’s that tracked weather and performed classified reconnaissance missions out over the Pacific.
Tom (with his wife Anne) returned to Iowa City after the Air Force with a fascination for global affairs. He was one of six original graduates in International Relations from the University of Iowa. Tom was one of three individuals who organized and ran the International Sales Division for Collins Radio which began his lifelong love of international travel. He then joined Amana Refrigeration and traveled the world establishing a network of Amana distributors. Tom and Anne had a son, David and a daughter, Sandra.
In 1962, Tom joined Cedar Rapids Engineering Company (Kwik-Way) on a 2-year consulting agreement to establish an international sales division. He became Vice-President of Sales in 1965 and was elected President of the company in 1969. Tom and a partner then purchased the company from the founding family and his 2 year consulting agreement became a lifetime career as President, CEO and Chairman of Kwik-Way Industries Inc., the successor company to Cedar Rapids Engineering.
His career took a toll on his personal life and his marriage to Anne ended in divorce. He married Judy Reed and helped raise his step daughter, Michelle. He again divorced and married Mary K. Hindman and adopted a daughter, Muriah.
Tom was also a Partner in Linn-Aire Properties and Senior Associate, State Public Policy Group (Des Moines) which is active in several states on Public Policy matters.
Because of Tom’s active involvement and expertise in Export Sales, he asked to consult with both the State of Iowa and the US Government. He worked with the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the Committee of Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives on matters of reciprocal trade and trade agreements. He published articles on international trade and also worked with the U.S. Senate on issues of aging, pensions which included testifying at hearings.
His Iowa efforts included participating in developing programs in the areas of economic development and education, chairing the Legislatures World Trade Institute Study Committee and serving as Chairman of Iowa Economic Development Initiative.
Tom has chaired the Legislature’s World Trade Advisory Committee, their international economic effort, and various other international initiatives. In the 1960’s, he authored a study of the economic impact of the then new St Lawrence Seaway upon Iowa. As Chair of Foreign Trade Bureau of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, he represented the Cedar Rapids area in appearances before the Congressional Committee on Ways & Means in the 1950’s, when Iowa was just beginning to think about being an active participant in world trade, a role until then played principally by the Cedar Rapids business community. He also authored and presented before a worldwide symposium in France, a study of engine rebuilding industry’s future. That study was later published in a significant industry publication. He also traveled with Governor Robert Ray and area business leaders to promote trade for Iowa.
Tom also had a passion for community involvement. His involvement includes the University of Iowa and the College of Public Health study of statewide mental health issues. He served as Past chairman or Board member of: Hawkeye Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, BSA District Chairman, Youth For Christ, Trustee of Coe College, original board of the Linn County Empowerment, and was a past president of Cedar Rapids Symphony Association. As chair of 1972 United Way’s Capital Campaign, Tom successfully achieved the first million dollar campaign. He was instrumental in the creation of Inn Circle (interagency effort providing housing, education, and employment for single homeless mothers) and also served as an executive committee member of YMCA Capital Fund Campaign.
Tom’s advocative focus has been upon the needs of children in Iowa. He served as a trustee of the Children’s Home of Cedar Rapids. Tom had the vision to build the current Tanager Place campus, and with his leadership and perseverance, raised the money from the community and state to make that happen. He is director emeritus, Tanager Place. He served on the board of the Child and Family Policy Center (Des Moines), Community Corrections Improvement Association of the Sixth Judicial District, sponsor of SAFE Families Coalition, Youth Leadership Program and Youth Peer Court.
He also has received recognition for “Outstanding Volunteer Service” to the Sixth Judicial District, Department of Corrections for his efforts in the Community Corrections Improvement Association.
In 2004, Tom received the Rockwell-Collins “Volunteer Child Advocate Award” which recites “Honoring those who apply their vision, wisdom, and energy to improve the lives of Iowa’s children”. Tom’s many community involvements over the years reflects his belief that a community is only as vibrant and healthy as the way it supports its most vulnerable. He felt fortunate that many individuals in Cedar Rapids support that with their actions.
Tom was also a member of downtown Rotary and Cedar Rapids Country club for over 60 years. He was also a 60+ year member of First Congregational Church and sang tenor in the choir.
The four important things to Tom were God, family and friends, children's welfare, and music.
Tom loved his time at Bay Lake, Minnesota. For over 60 years, he help teach hundreds of kids how to ski, how to hang on for dear life to an inner tube, how to catch (and release) turtles with a net and just have fun playing kick-the-can with all the kids. His perfect week would include “time on the water”, golf with friends, a good game of tennis, water skiing, burning a few hamburgers and, somewhere in there, would be a glass of Scotch and storytelling about his adventures around the globe.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Mary K. Hindman, children, David (Jean), Sandra Duncan, Michelle (Mike) Woode, and Muriah Mikolajczak; grandchildren, Zachary Ritchie, Nicholas Parks, Tanner Parks, Jason Wadlington, Alexis Woode, Mercedes Woode, and Jacklyn Mikolajczak. He is also survived by his sisters, Marian Hjelmfelt, Norma Jensen, and Carolyn Parks and two special friends, Bob Kazimour and Paul Phelan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Gladys Parks, his sister, Lois Mitchell, and his special cat Gata.
Tom received loving care from Comfort Care, Cottage Grove Health Center, and UnityPoint St Lukes Hospital. Dr Payvandi, Cardiologist, is also to be thanked for his care. Tom lived life to its fullest.
Donations may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, Tanager Place, Cedar Rapids Symphony or charity of the donor’s choice.