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Josie DiAnn Parker, 36, of Cherokee passed away Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at home surrounded by her family following a courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Larry Lemke will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 13, from 4-7 p.m. with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Services will be livestreamed on the Boothby Funeral Home website through the assistance of Fuller Digital Solutions. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Ryan Parker family.
Josie was born Sept. 5, 1988, to Gary and Shari Ann (Petersen) Schrage at Waterloo. She attended Aplington-Parkersburg Schools, graduating in 2007. She attended Iowa State University, Iowa Central Community College and Buena Vista University, earning her bachelor’s degree in education.
She was united in marriage Oct. 6, 2012, to Ryan Parker at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cherokee.
Josie was a teacher’s aide at Alta-Aurelia Community School for two years and taught at Storm Lake Community School for seven years.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia. Josie was a member of Cherokee County Pork Producers.
Josie cherished spending time with her kids and her family members. She loved going in the tractor with Ryan. Josie loved teaching and always had an open door policy for all of her students.
Josie will lovingly be remembered by her husband Ryan of Cherokee; three children: Marty, Lily and Rudy Parker; parents, Gary and Shari Schrage of Parkersburg; siblings: LeeAnn and Bob Gilroy and their children Liam and Moriah of Solon; Kristine and Jeff Brinkman and their children Angela (Austin), Emily and Sarah of Colo; Andrew and Rhea Schrage and their children Brody, Avery and Brynn of Shellrock; Michael and Hilleary Schrage and their children Vance and Emery of Pacific Junction; Michelle and Dan Pelican and their daughter Ella of Madrid; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert E. and Peggy Parker of Cherokee; brother-in-law Rodney and Liza Parker and their children Skyler, Rowen, Anna and Raylen of Cherokee; sister-in-law Kimberly and Dan Christoffer of Rochester, Minn., and their children Parker, Caleb and Abby; brother-in-law Curtis Parker of Aurelia.
