LaMoine Westley Parkhurst

LaMoine Westley Parkhurst, age 86, passed away peacefully at home with his son and daughter by his side in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 18 due to complications of a stroke. He was born October 16, 1937, to Loren and Myrtle Parkhurst. The fourth of five siblings, he grew up on a dairy farm on Hwy 37 just north of Mondovi. He was confirmed at Pleasant Valley Lutheran and graduated from Mondovi High School.

On September 28, 1957, he married Janet Ganong of rural Eau Claire. During their early marriage he worked at a local dairy while attending The University of Wisconsin Stout. He majored in Industrial Arts Education.

In February of 1961they welcomed their first child, a son, Mark. As a member of the Army Reserve, LaMoine was called to active duty later that same year during the Berlin Crisis. He served in Seattle, Washington and was able to bring his young family along. They thoroughly enjoyed their time there meeting new friends, visiting Mt. Ranier, and attending the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. This placed them amongst the first to go to the top of the (then) new Seattle Space Needle.

After returning home to Eau Claire and completing his obligation to the Army Reserve, LaMoine took a job in Fort Atkinson. There, in 1966, he and Janet welcomed a daughter, Laurie, thus completing their 'nuclear family.' In Fort, LaMoine began his employment with the JC Penney Company as an interior designer. This was a job that found him first transferred to Wheaton, IL, and eventually transferred to Des Moines, Iowa in June of 1971.

It was during his time in Des Moines that LaMoine decided to utilize his degree and return to teaching. The bulk of his career was spent as a shop teacher at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. During his lunch he could often be found playing cribbage with fellow teachers. In the summer he would either teach driver's education or build decks, garages, or additions for additional income. One summer he managed to build an entire home for family friends. He and Janet remained in Des Moines for nearly 30 years, forming irreplaceable friendships. They retired back to rural Mondovi in Y2K where, once again, LaMoine built a house - this times his own.

LaMoine had a wide variety of interests. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, singing and building furniture for his home. His brother-in-law Ron Ganong traveled (with friends) to Des Moines every year to hunt with LaMoine. Weekends in the summer were spent on Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. Summer vacations often found the family traveling either up or down the Mississippi River. He sang for years in a barbershop chorus participating in annual performances and serving as president of his local chapter of the SPEBSQSA in 1976. LaMoine also sang in the church choir, served on his church council and was elected congregational president many times while a member of Zion Lutheran in Des Moines. He was also on the board of Trinity Lutheran Retirement Center.