Melissa Parkin

“I’m not bossy, I just have leadership skills” perfectly describes Melissa “Missy” Dawn Parkin, née Luerssen. However, cancer was something Missy found she could not boss around.

On Oct. 15, 2024, surrounded by family and friends, Missy lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was truly a fighter, as she fought off both anal and thyroid cancer in 2016.

Missy was born on Aug. 30, 1967, to Linda Dealey England in Davenport, IA. Missy graduated from West High School in 1985, the University of Dubuque in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education, and from Drake University in 2007 with a Master of Science in Education. Missy taught in the Davenport School District for 21 years and then worked for 13 years as an Educational Consultant for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency.

Missy married the love of her life, Dave Parkin, on June 9, 2001. They had many fun adventures traveling, camping, going to the races, and shopping (Missy’s favorite).

Missy had an innate ability to overshare personal information and turn it into something humorous. She loved decorating her home for all the holidays, cheering for the Chicago Cubs, Dallas Cowboys, and Iowa Hawkeyes, buying gifts for her friends and family, reading (especially People magazine), checking Facebook, shopping on Amazon, and hanging out with her friends.

Missy is survived by her husband, Dave; her dog, Oakley; her uncle, Jim Bost; several cousins and their families; and many, many friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, stepdad, Bryan England, Jasper, Poopie, and Harley.

Visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at the Hickory Creek Event Center, 3504 Hickory Grove Rd., Davenport, IA. Funeral services will take place at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3510 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport, IA, on Friday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to King’s Harvest Pet Rescue or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made at mvcremation.com