Peter Raymond Parvi

Peter Raymond Parvi, age 81 of Colfax, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 10:30 am at the Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax.  Burial with military rites will be held at Colfax Cemetery.  Visitation for Pete will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the church.  Memorials may be directed to the Quarry Springs Park and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com  A donation link can also be found through Facebook at the Quarry Springs Park page, https://www.facebook.com/QuarrySpringsPark. 

The son of Raymond and Vinette (Hubbell) Parvi, Pete was born on August 4, 1940, in Becker County, Minnesota, near Menahga, and grew up there and later near Nashwauk in the Iron Range country.  Being one-half Finn (his paternal grandparents both came from Finland), Pete demonstrated the stoicism, deep-but-not-often-shown emotions, and enjoyment of coffee at any time of day that Finns are known for, along with taking a sauna (Finnish pronunciation ‘sowna’) in the separate bathhouse at the family home in Nashwauk, with stones fired by birchwood in a woodburning stove.  Pete was an amateur boxer in high school and junior college, and competed in the Golden Gloves tournaments in Minnesota and Des Moines with his brother, Vern. He attended Itasca Junior College after graduation from Nashwauk High School, where he also ran track, and obtained a degree in forestry. He proudly served in the United States Army, discharged just at the beginning of the Vietnam War after serving on Machinery Logistics, helping to keep machinery and tanks and trucks running in constructing an airport there.  

On February 19, 1966, he was united in marriage to Delores Ann Casteel in Massena, Iowa.  After living in Des Moines for a year, they purchased a home in Colfax where they’ve resided since. Pete worked at Kenworth Trucking Company in Des Moines from 1966-2007 as a Parts Manager, and after retiring, continued to work part-time for several years there. Pete was an avid bike rider, participating often in the BRR ride, the Des Moines Mayor’s Ride, and parts of Ragbrai with his son Steve. Their riding adventures went far beyond civilized rides, however, and also included mountain bike riding on Sycamore Trail in Des Moines, Sugar Bottom Trail near Solon, and others, and sometimes included crashes, scrapes, and broken bones. Pete also served his community for several years, with his love of the outdoors and love of trails coming together in his work at Quarry Springs Park. The legacy he has created there through his acts of love through work and service will memorialize him in a way he would be proud of as a humble man who did not like attention drawn to himself. Pete also loved his grandchildren very much and enjoyed attending their many activities over the years. 

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Delores; three children, Brenda (Kevin) Yoakum, Wade Parvi, and Steve Parvi; three grandchildren, Madison, Jamie, and Kale; a sister, Sarah (Nick) Wedge, and several nieces and nephews.  Preceding Pete in death were his parents and two brothers, Kenny and Vern.