James A. Parkin, age 89, a Manitowoc resident, died February 13, 2011 at Shady Lane Nursing Care Center.

Jim was born on June 3, 1921 in Springfield, OH to the late Anthony and Frieda Parkin. He graduated from Springfield High School with the class of 1940. In 1965, Jim married LaVerne Krueger in Manitowoc. Jim was a born pilot. He learned to fly on his own in 1940. He eventually soloed in a 1938 J-2 Piper Cub and earned his private pilot's license in 1946 and his commercial license in 1955. As a Civil Service government employee during World War II at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, he was a flight test inspector. After the war, he flew as a charter pilot in various states. In 1960, he was hired as a pilot/co-pilot for Rahr Malting Company in Manitowoc. After he retired from commercial flying, he worked at Anheuser Busch as a malster.

Jim was a charter member of the local EAA Chapter 383 of Manitowoc. At that time the organization consisted of approximately five members. He was a member of NAGIRROC (Wrong Way Corrigan spelled backwards) where he worked at restoring vintage airplanes. He also did a test pilot stint on an old restored 1946 Aeronca Champion. He enjoyed golf, concerts and the theater.

Survivors include his wife, LaVerne; his children and their spouses: Pamela (Rick) Fontaine, Dayton, OH; and Charlene (Rollin) Smith, Zellwood, FL; four grandchildren: Nathan Bush, Dayton, OH; Alexander Smith, Orlando, FL; Katherine Smith, Miami, FL; and Charlene Smith, Washington D.C.; two sisters-in-law: Alla Parkin, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Elizabeth Krueger, Manitowoc; his very special nieces (his harem): Deb, Diane, Penny, Julie, Jenny, Amy and Anna; special nephews: David, Thomas, Jeff, Michael, Gary, and Dennis; also other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and three brothers.

It was Jim's request to have a private memorial service for family which will take place at a later date.

A memorial fund has been established in his name.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, N. 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Very special thanks to the wonderful women of Aurora Hospice for their compassionate care of James and his family. Also special thanks to the staff of Shady Lane Nursing Care Center: nurse Wanda, all of the caring aides, Shelley, Tammy, Nancy, the peanut butter jelly sandwich gal and all the others for their love and respect for James.

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

- John Gillespie Magee, Jr.