Howard Dean Parish

Memorial Services for Howard D. Parish will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska with Pastor Jim Bendorf officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Alma Cemetery in Alma with Military Honors provide by the Faye Cady American Legion Post #118 and the United States Army Military Honors Team.

Howard Dean Parish, 88 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Friday, November 6, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Colonial Villa in Alma. Howard was born May 18, 1927, on the family farm in the Prairie Dog Township, east of Alma, in rural Harlan County, the youngest of two children born to Abe Alvin and Estelene Cyril (Cook) Parish. He was baptized at the First Christian Church in Alma in 1953. Howard received his primary education from rural school District 95 in Phillips County, Kansas and Dry Creek rural school near Woodruff, Kansas and then attended high school at Alma High School, graduating with the class of 1945.

Following high school, Howard enlisted into the United States Army on July 6, 1945. He rode the troop train to California and was later stationed in Paris, France. He was honorably discharged on January 17, 1947.

On December 21, 1955, Howard was united in marriage to Mary Martha Summers at Ridgeland, South Carolina, and together they raised five daughters: Cheryl, Patricia, Rebecca, Julie and Jennifer. The family made their home in Jamestown, Ohio, before moving back to Alma in 1957. Howard worked as a farmer, livestock buyer and auctioneer in many towns across Nebraska including Alma and Red Cloud, as well as numerous towns in Kansas: Oberlin, Phillipsburg, Natoma, and Ellinwood. In 1985, the family returned to Alma where Howard and Mary retired to the family house. Howard began to make his home at the Hillcrest Terrace on July 2, 2015. Mary preceded him in death on October 1, 1995.

Howard enjoyed livestock sales, collecting antiques and Husker Football. He was especially fond of the time spent with his grandkids and great-grandchildren.

He was past member of the First Christian Church but in the 1960's began attending the churches in the Methodist faith and attended the United Methodist Church in Alma when they retired. He was also a member of the Harlan Lodge AF & AM of Alma.

Besides his parents and wife, Mary, he was preceded in death by one brother, Everett Parish and his wife, Jane; brothers-in-law, John "Jack" Summers, and Bill Summers.

He leaves to celebrate his life; daughters, Cheryl Mulch of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Patricia "Patsy" Elsen of Loveland, Colorado, Rebecca "Becky" Keil and her husband, Allen of Tucson, Arizona, Julie Burke and her husband, Jeff of Mesa, Arizona, and Jennifer Rivera and her husband, Luis of Colorado Springs, Colorado; eleven grandchildren: Justin Parish of Vail, Colorado, Eric Gordon of Colorado Springs, Stacie McMullen and her husband, Brian of Great Bend, Kansas, Tasha Pfizenmeier and her husband, Troy of Clay Center, Kansas, Ivy Elsen of Aurora, Colorado, Zach Burke and his wife, Angi of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Jocelyn Burke of Colorado Springs, Jordan Kober and his wife, Alexandra of Colorado Springs, Jarrod Kober of Colorado Springs, Tara Flim and her husband, Peter of Colorado Springs and Turi Keil of Tuscon; 6 great-grandchildren: Tanner and Trista Pfizenmeier, Landon Burke, Ashton Kober and Heather Tedrow and Cailee McMullen; along with many other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation as the family is honoring Howard's wish for cremation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

A memorial has been established in Howard's honor and kindly suggested to Harlan County Health System in Alma.

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.