Jack Parker

Jack Frost Parker II, originally from Mercer, Pennsylvania, who moved to Idaho in 1978 with his wife, Carol, passed away on Monday, August 8th due to complications from pneumonia, sepsis and a half decade of literally a broken body.

If his body were a truck, it is no doubt he arrived at the end of the race broken down, as he used his body to drive him across the Western Hemisphere in pursuit of an outdoor life. Fueled by passion for hunting, fishing and outdoors he was accompanied on his lifetime of trips by his surviving wife, Carol, his only son, Zach, and many friends whom shared a similar passion.

Jack chased small game and white tail deer in the woods of Pennsylvania. He traversed Idaho and Montana mountains for big game. He floated by boat and by tube, as well as waded small streams and large rivers from Northern Montana through Utah; Oregon to Colorado. Jack, with his dogs and father and son, called geese and ducks, as well as stalked trout throughout South East Idaho. He, with his hunting buddies flushed pheasants in the Dakotas; he chased Pike in Canada, Tarpon in Cuba, Dorado in Mexico, bonefish in the Bahamas and brown trout in Chile.

If not for Jack’s high school sweetheart and wife of 42 years, Carol, he surely would have worn that body down sooner. Amongst his outdoor travels, Jack and Carol developed a warm and loving home in which they raised Zach and several Labradors.

Jack convinced his father, Jack Sr., and step-mother, Joy, to move to Idaho in 1980 to share in his passions of the greatness of the Western outdoors.

Jack showed his love for his family by being a stable influence and presence for both Carol and Zach. He was an involved father, coaching Zach’s soccer and football teams and only missing three of Zach’s high school football games in four years. He helped teach his daughter-in-law, Michelle, to fly-fish. She always felt in watching Jack fish that he was in his element and he was beautifully graceful. Before passing, Jack was sharing his joys of the outdoors with his two ginger grandchildren, Mason and Rozalyn. He truly loved his family.

With friends and certainly with family, Jack left his imprint and influence. He loved and was loved. As Norman Maclean wrote "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge) in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to the Skyline Gun Club, (6888W. Arco Hiway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Memorial Services will be held