Gary D. Parker

Mass of Christian Burial for Gary D. Parker, age 84, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk. Reverend Gregory Carl will be the celebrant. Interment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery, with military honors provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard, American Legion Post 16, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1644. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to mass at the church. 

Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Gary passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Stanton Health Center in Stanton, Nebraska. 

Gary D. Parker was born June 20, 1939, to Francis and Hilda (Sothan) Parker in Lincoln, NE. He grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957. Gary was a member of the gymnastics team, 1953-1957, competing on the pommel horse and parallel bars. The team won three state championships and was inducted into Lincoln High’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Gary then attended the University of Nebraska until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 10, 1958. He was stationed in the Philippines until he was honorably discharged on August 31, 1960.

Upon his return, he attended Southeast Community College in Milford, NE and obtained an Associates of Science degree in Architectural Drafting. He married Jane (Matzke) Parker on December 21, 1961. They made their home in Lincoln, NE where Gary worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads as a surveyor.

In 1965, Gary accepted a job with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, NE as an instructor. In 1968, Gary decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. After graduating, he moved his young family to Pueblo, CO where he taught architectural drafting for two years at Pueblo Community College. In 1972, the family returned to Nebraska where Gary taught at Northeast Community College until his retirement in 2006.

Gary received several awards during his career, including the Nebraska Community College Association Distinguished Alumni (1992) and Northeast Community College Distinguished Service Award (2000). He received Emeritus Status for 34 years of dedicated service as an instructor for the Architectural Drafting Program in 2009. He was passionate about teaching and was a key partner with Nucor’s Detailing Center to ensure Northeast’s Architectural Drafting program prepared students to work in Nucor’s one-of-a-kind drafting facility.

Gary enjoyed playing golf, was an avid Husker football fan, and was dedicated to his faith and family (including many pets over the years). He was also a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus. During the latter years of his life, he lived at the memory unit of the Meadows and became close to his community of friends and caretakers.

He is survived by his spouse, Jane Parker of Norfolk; his children, Connie (James) Kube of Norfolk, Tim (Mary) Parker of Omaha, Scott (Jennifer) Parker of Omaha, and Zenaida Arquilla of Omaha; grandchildren, Jackson (Kaycee) Kube of Norfolk; Elise (Cash) Campbell of Norfolk; Madeline (Tanner) Henning of Omaha; Bennett Parker of Haysville, NC; Tanner Trezise (Overland Park, KS); and Kiahna Arquilla of Omaha and her three children.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and stepfather, Robert Mahan.

Memorials can be directed to the Northeast Community College Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

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