Robert Charles Parker

Robert Charles Parker "Bob", age 75, of Ann Arbor and Bonita Springs, FL, died February 5, 2011 in Fort Meyers, Florida, after a brief illness. Bob was born January 15, 1936 in Ann Arbor to Arthur F. and Janetta V. Parker. An Ann Arbor resident all his life, he was also a member of First Presbyterian Church. He attended the University Elementary School, Ann Arbor Public Schools, and was a graduate of Ann Arbor High. Following that, Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, stationed in Germany. After service, he attended Eastern Michigan University and then was employed as a firefighter for the City of Ann Arbor after which he worked for The Ann Arbor News. Following his successful attendance at an industry-sponsored stockbrokers academy, he was recruited by the Paine-Webber brokerage firm. Later, Bob joined his grade school classmate Sam Edwards in founding the Beacon Investment Company, from which both retired in 2006. Bob was a lifelong Michigan fan, serving for many years in the Michigan Stadium press box, up to and including last season. In addition Bob and his wife Jane funded the Robert C. & Jane Parker Scholarship for Football. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his sisters, Janetta Weid and Dorothy Ann Lapp, and by dear step-son James Marron. He is survived by his cherished wife, the former Jane Fingerle Marron; his beloved daughters, Susan Brown (Geoff Borst) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Marianne Harkness (Jim) of Winnetka, Illinois, daughters of a prior marriage to Patricia Lovell Schmid; by loving step-daughters Julie Marron-Parker (Greg) of Kalamazoo and Anne-Marie Marron of Louisville, Colorado; also by grandchildren Keenan Brown, Parker Harkness and Daniel Harkness; and Aaron Kuiper: Casey Ann, Maxwell James and Aubrey Jane Parker. Bob is also survived by his older brothers Arthur F. Jr. (Helen) of Ann Arbor and Richard (Sandra) of Warren, and by his brother-in-law John Lapp of Ann Arbor; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S. Fourth Ave. in Ann Arbor on Friday, February 11th from 4PM to 7PM. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 12th at 11AM at the First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw Avenue. Private burial at Washtenong Memorial Park. Donations may be made in Bob's memory to the Washtenaw Community College Foundation, Arthur & Janetta Parker Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which Bob established in his parent's memory. The Foundation's mailing address is: Washtenaw Community College Foundation, SC306, 4800 East Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48105-4800. www.muehligannarbor.com

Arrangements under the direction of Muehlig Funeral Chapel, Ann Arbor, MI.