John "Jack" Sargent Parmerlee

John Sargent (Jack) Parmerlee, 92, of Kansas City, Missouri, was taken home to be with our Lord Jesus early Saturday afternoon, September 23, 2017. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at 4:00 pm at Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, with a funeral service following at 5:00 pm with burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

John Sargent (Jack) Parmerlee was born to Clara Belle (Gallie) Parmerlee and Maurice Mallory Parmerlee of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Northeast High School (Kansas City) in 1942 and went on to further his education at Junior and Teacher’s College in Kansas City, Mo. Before he was able to continue his education, he was drafted into the Navy and served as a radio operator on a destroyer escort, the USS Chatelain (DE 149) during WWII.

After his discharge, he attended the University of Chicago on the G.I. bill, but delayed his education to return to Kansas City to care for his ailing mother until her passing in1949. He then entered law school at the University of Kansas City, and was called again to active duty from the reserves to serve in the Korean War stationed in Sasebo, Japan. He was married to Myrtle L. Deterding one month after his discharge in 1952, continued his education, and received his law degree in June, 1954—eight months after the birth of his first child.

Over the years he worked for Allstate Insurance Company, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and as an attorney in private practice.

He was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, the Missouri Bar Association, and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and sister, his brother William E. Parmerlee, his grandson John William Parmerlee, and his beloved wife Myrtle L. (Mert) Parmerlee. He is survived by four children: daughter Susan L. Osborn (Dean) of Chandler, AZ; son John S. Parmerlee, Jr. (Nicole) of Blue Springs, MO; daughter Clara Jane Sweeten of Overland Park, KS; and son Ronald M. Parmerlee of Overland Park, KS.

His surviving grandchildren are Jeffrey C. Sweeten, Bethany Parmerlee Lipari, Jessica M. Knust, John R. Osborn, Benjamin S. Parmerlee, Joan L. Parmerlee, James W. Osborn, and Samuel R. Parmerlee. Jack was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Aurora J. Lipari, Paladin J. Knust, and Quenby J. Knust. Also surviving are three nephews, one niece, nine great-nephews, six great-nieces, and their children.

Jack loved life, and was a lifelong devout Christian who showed the love of Christ to everyone he met. His wife, Mert, described Jack as having a heart as big as all outdoors, and having never met a stranger. He had an uncommonly generous heart. Some of his favorite things were dogs, rocks, flashlights, pocket knives, candy and ice cream, bowling, and traveling. He was looking forward to his ultimate adventure of traveling through the stars on his way to heaven. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan's Purse, City Union Mission, or Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.