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| April 11, 2018 1:00 AM

John B. Parden, 94

John B. Parden, 94, of Post Falls, Idaho, formerly of Virginia, Minn., passed from this world into God’s hands on Thursday, April 5, 2018, at Life Care Center of Post Falls.

Jack was born in 1923 to George and Ann Parden in Ordway Township, S.D., where he grew up during the Great Depression on the family farm and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1941. During World War II, he served as a First Lieutenant on a destroyer escort in the North Atlantic. As a member of the “Greatest Generation” he enjoyed telling stories of the Depression years on the farm and his harrowing adventures at sea during the war. Following WWII, he graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1948.

Out of college, he was hired by U.S. Steel and moved to Virginia, Minn. He worked as an engineer and mining superintendent for 35 years, managing mine operations, equipment maintenance, and iron ore blasting among various other duties. He also joined the Virginia U.S. Army National Guard and retired as a major with 20 years of military service. He was an executive officer of the Minnesota Missile Battalion, supervising their rocket program.

Jack was united in marriage to his loving wife, Jennie A. Zupin of Ely, Minn., on Nov. 18, 1950. They had many adventures together, traveling and recreating outdoors with family and friends. Jack was active in the Virginia community, serving in the Knights of Columbus, Elks Club, American Legion, Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota, Boy Scouts and Little League Baseball. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church and served as a councilman, and with his wife, Jennie, managed and ran their fall festival for 15 years. He was a member of the Virginia Public Utilities Commission and served as commission president.

He was a lifelong fisherman and hunter and spent his free time in the Northwoods of Minnesota. He imparted his love for the outdoors to his family and they spent many happy days at their family cabin on Crane Lake near the Canadian border. He enjoyed camping, trap shooting, bowling and gardening. He and Jennie moved to Garden Plaza in Post Falls, Idaho, in 2012 to be closer to family. They were active bridge players their entire lives and were able to continue playing after their move.

Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers, James and William Parden.

Jack is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jennie; his sister, Mary Crosswait of Spearfish, S.D.; his son, Patrick (Bonnie) Parden of Hayden Lake, Idaho; his two daughters, Shannon (Scott White) Parden of Albuquerque, N.M. and Mary Colleen (Daniel) Crawford of White Bear Lake, Minn.; his three grandchildren, Andrew, Kristin (Erik) and Lindsey (Chris); and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018, at St. George’s Catholic Church in Post Falls, followed by inurnment at 2:15 p.m. at the Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash. A reception will be held in Garden Plaza at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12.

The Parden family wishes to thank the staff at both Garden Plaza and Life Care Center of Post Falls for their compassion and care of Jack. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the North Idaho Food Bank.

Arrangements are with the English Funeral Home and Chapel of Post Falls. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com.