Alan E. Park

Alan E. Park, died on Sunday, October 30, 2011. He was born January 19, 1921 to Henry Martyn and Eva Lyle (Taylor) Park in the city of Cedar Falls, IA. Alan attended public schools in Cedar Falls, IA and Moline, IL and graduated from Moline H.S., January of 1939. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign, June of 1943 with a BS in Mech. Engineering. He also earned an MBA at the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls in December of 1981.

His first permanent employment (during WW II) began in June of 1943 at Wright Aeronautical doing aircraft engine engineering work in Patterson, NJ. At the end of a year, he joined the N.A.C.A. Engine Lab at Cleveland, OH until December of 1946. He then was employed at the Rock Island Metal Foundry for 1.5 years. He joined Deere & Co. in Product Engineering at their Dubuque, IA plant in June of 1948. In October of 1956, he was transferred to the Engine Engineering Group at Deere's Product Engineering Center at Cedar Falls, IA. In March of 1983, he was transferred to Deere & Co. Administration in Moline, IL. He retired from there as Manager of the Components Planning Dept. at the end of November, 1984, with 36.5 years of service.

He was a registered Professional Engineer in Iowa and is a life member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has been a member of the B.P.O. Elks, Short Hills C.C., the Q.C. SCORE Chapter, the Q.C. Computer Society, and did tax counseling for A.A.R.P. He was active in the Blackhawk Hiking Club, the Tuesday Hike/Bike group, the J.D. Retirees Club, the Wednesday a.m. Deere Retirees group, the Stonegate Condominium Board of Managers and served as a Client Money Manager for the Alternatives for Older Adults Agency.

He married M. Sylvia (Meyer) Park, October 20, 1951, in Dubuque. In October of this year they celebrated 60 years of marriage. They had eight children: Patricia Leigh (Tom) Fitzpatrick, Portland, OR; Bryan Martyn (Sheila) Park at Vashon, WA; Lisa Michelle (Todd) Hunemuller, at New Hartford, IA; Renee Beth (Patrick) Mooney, at Lexington, KY; Lindsay Alan Park, at Iowa City, IA; Ross Edward Park, at Fort Worth, TX; Phillip Steven Park, at Columbus, OH, and David Scott Park, last known address was Myrtle Beach, SC. He has been missing since October 1998. There are 9 grand children and 8 great-grand children.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Phyllis Magnuson Andrews, daughters Patricia L. Park Fitzpatrick, Lisa M. Park Hunemuller, and nephew John Magnuson.

There will be no services. Cremation rites have been accorded. Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements. Inurnment will be at Moline Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be a small get together at Christ the King's church hall at 3209 60th Street, Moline, IL, on Thursday, November 3 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for family and friends. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.esterdahl.com.