The memorial service for Joseph &uot;Joe&uot; W. Parry, of Albert Lea,

will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. Robert Schneider will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Friends may visit with family one hour before the service at the church.

Joe died on Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at his home. He was 81.

He was born on Feb. 7, 1923, in Albert Lea the son of Edward and Mary (Wainwright) Parry. He attended Catholic School and then graduated from Albert Lea

High School in 1941. On May 10, 1947, he married Lorraine Randall at St. Theodore Catholic Church.

Joe’s service to our country totaled more than 37 years. He was called to active duty from March of 1943 until October of 1945 and then again from

January of 1951 until August of 1952.

He was a prisoner of war for 15 months in both Italy and Germany. Joe was an Administrative Supply Technician for the National Guard, from which he officially retired on Feb. 7, 1983.

He had also worked at Wilson-Beemer Supply and installed carpet, linoleum and tiles for area companies.

Joe was a member of the American Legion, VFW, D.A.V., Cooties, N.A.R.F.E.

and Ex-P.O.W.

He was especially proud of all his efforts for the Avenue of Flags.

He enjoyed working in the yard, and loved spending time with the great grandchildren.

Joe is survived by four children: Vicky and her husband Randy Ondracek of Santa Barbara, Calif., Cindy Parry and her husband Mike Anderson of Albert Lea, Lori Parry and her partner Melissa Weis of St. Paul, and

Mike Parry and his wife Kathy of Waseca; two grandchildren: Michelle and her husband Chad Pederson of Waseca, and Dustin Parry and his wife Suzanne of West Des Moines, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Dallas Marie Bradley-Pederson, Cali Paige Pederson and Jayde Marie Pederson, all of Waseca; one brother, Robert Parry and his wife Mary of Mechanicsville, Md.; sisters-in-law: Ruth Parry of Albert Lea, Lylah and her husband Fredrick Sahr of Ocala, Fla., and Kathy Davis of Santa Rosa, Calif.; brother-in-law, Wayne Randall and his wife

Pat of Wimberley, Texas;

special friend, Gabby White and his family of Albert Lea; and several nieces,

nephews, and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lorraine, in 2003; brothers: Jack and Tom Parry; and sisters: Monica Donovan, and Margaret and Dorothy Parry.

In lieu of flowers memorials suggested to the Avenue of Flags, D.A.V., D.A.M., St. Theodore’s School, or Crossroads Community Hospice.