Jacquelyn Lee Parrish

Born on December 20, 1944, in Boone, Iowa, to Gerald and Mildred Parrish, Jacquelyn grew up with a tenacity that would define her life. From an early age, it was clear that when Jacquelyn put her mind to something, she gave it her all — heart, soul, and determination.

A standout basketball player in high school, she was captain of the Des Moines Register All State Team and inspired those around her with her fierce competitive spirit. That same drive followed her into college, where she maintained a place on the Dean’s List — a recognition of both her talent and natural leadership.

Jacquelyn channeled that same energy into a career in education, where she made an indelible impact as a teacher. She believed deeply in the success of every student, going above and beyond to ensure each one had the tools and support they needed to thrive. Her dedication to her students remains one of her most lasting contributions.

Beyond the classroom, Jacquelyn was a woman of many passions. She loved to travel and had adventures across the world, including Africa, Spain, and throughout Europe. Cruises were a particular joy for her, and she treasured the experiences and connections she made along the way. Back home, she was a savvy entrepreneur, often scouring garage sales and “going out of business” sales to find treasures to sell in her eBay shop — shipping items to customers all around the globe.

She had a deep love for the land and a green thumb to match, tending to gardens wherever she lived. Her love of movement and nature extended to horses, which she both rode and tamed. As the proud owner of her own stable, she competed in barrel racing and took great pride in helping others experience the joys of riding.

At home, Jacquelyn enjoyed the simple pleasures: taking her dogs to the dog park where she developed lasting friendships, putting together puzzles, playing cards and other games, diving into a good book, or simply spending time with her loved ones. Her family often joked that her beloved dogs were her “fur babies,” and she treated them with every bit of the love and devotion they deserved.

Jacquelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Mildred Parrish; her son Michael Judge; brother-in-law Dave Dearinger; niece Marta Udelhoven; and her beloved dogs, Dori, Mandy, and Bailey.

She is survived by her loyal service dog, Sophie; daughters, Kimberly (Greg) Singstad and Kelly (Randall) Koehn; grandson, Trevor (Bri) Koehn; great-gandson Roman Koehn; sister, Pam Dearinger; nephews, Shawn Dearinger and Jerry Phipps; and niece, Cheri Williams.