July 6, 1930 - March 26, 2024
Willett Frank Parrish passed away March 26, 2024, at his home here in Johnstown. Frank was born July 6, 1930, in Pueblo, Colorado to Roy and Helen Parrish. Frank was their first child. 2 years after Frank was born, he was joined by his sister, Nancy Lee Powers. Frank lived in Pasadena, California with his mother during his high school years, and he graduated in 1948. Jobs were scarce in the summer of 1948, and Frank loved his country a lot, so he joined the Navy during the Korean conflict. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea as an aircraft mechanic for a full year, and he loved his time in the service. He called his time in the Navy a 4-year vacation. While on leave visiting family in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1951, he met a beautiful young lady named Joanne working at the local five and dime store there and it was love at first sight for both of them. They kept in touch writing letters to each other during Frank’s last year in the service, and after he served his tour, he married Joanne Kelleher in August of 1952 in Colorado Springs. Frank and Joanne were blessed with five children, with their first being born in May of 1953. All five of their kids went to school in Northglenn, Colorado. Frank’s main goal in life was to provide a stable home for his family, with a mother and father both present. Something he never had as a child.
Thanks to his aircraft mechanic’s experience from the Navy, in 1954 Frank was able to secure a job on the B-52 program that was underway in Moses Lake, Washington, and Frank worked on this project for Boeing Aircraft for 8 years. After having their 5th child, Frank needed to find a 2nd job to help make ends meet. He worked part-time for a sign company in Moses Lake, which is where he learned the trade of making signs. Frank was a very talented artist his whole life, so he loved creating works of art when making his signs. Wanting to move back to his home state of Colorado, Frank and his family moved back in 1962 and settled in Northglenn. He ended up working full-time for a big sign company in Denver for a few years, designing and building signs of all shapes and sizes. He decided to start his own sign business in 1965 named Northglenn Signs. He worked hard day and night to make his business a success, and with the help of Joanne, they grew the business over time, and 30 years later, they sold the business and moved to Loveland, Colorado. In 2001, Frank and Joanne moved to Johnstown, and he loved the small town feeling here. Frank also had a huge place in his heart for nature and for all of God’s creatures, including the numerous dogs that he owned and loved dearly over the years.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne; his sister, Nancy; his children, Karen, Laura, Steven, Daniel and Jeffrey; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Frank always said that “family is everything” and he was so proud of the amazing family that he and Joanne started almost 72 years ago. Frank was a strong and courageous man, a man of honor and dignity, who chose to have a very positive outlook on life. He was strong yet very gentle and kind. He was a man of faith who loved God with his whole heart.
A very special thank you goes out to the wonderful staff at Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins, Colorado. The in-home care that Frank received from them during his last 3 weeks of life was a true blessing from start to finish. The care and the compassion that the people at Pathways provide is priceless, and it will never be forgotten.
Frank will be cremated with a small service in Loveland, and his remains will be buried at the Johnstown cemetery with a great view of the Rocky Mountains. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to can donate to the Pathways Hospice of Fort Collins, or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Celebration of Life Service
Thursday, April 4, 2024
1:00 PM
Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home & Crematory
1102 N. Lincoln Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537
