Frank J. Parkerson

Frank J. Parkerson
February 11, 1946 - November 22, 2020 

   Frank J. Parkerson, 74 years old,  passed away after a lengthy illness on November 22, 2020.  He was born on February 11, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, to Frank J. Parkerson Sr and Lorraine (Segler) Parkerson, both of whom preceded him in death.   Mr. Parkerson attended Carthage College, Kenosha,Wisconsin, from which he received his B.A. in 1969, and ITT-Kent College of Law, from which he received his J.D. with honors in 1973.

      Upon graduation from ITT-Kent, Mr. Parkerson joined the Cook County State's Attorney's Office where he became a trial attorney handling criminal trials and appeals in serious felonies, including capital cases.    After leaving the State's Attorney's Office in 1981, Mr. Parkerson worked briefly for a Michigan City law firm, before returning to the State's Attorney's Office in 1983, where he stayed until in 2002.

     During his second stint with the State's Attorney, Mr. Parkerson litigated civil, criminal environmental and occupational safety cases.    Cases of note during this period were People v. Film Recovery Systems and People v. Chicago Magnet Wire Corp, both of which involved the alleged poisoning of workers with chemicals at the plants where they worked.

     From 1982 to 1989 Mr. Parkerson sat on the Board of Directors of the Dunes Arts Foundation and appeared on stage in many of the Foundation's productions.     He also coached girls' softball, was a parishioner at Notre Dame Catholic Church and was active with the Notre Dame Men's Club.   He sang in the Notre Dame choir for 25 years and was also a cantor for Mass.   He was also a frequent contributor to the News Dispatch Anvil Chorus.

      In 1980, Mr. Parkerson married Ellen (Bergerson) Parkerson, who survives him.     The couple has one daughter Bridget (Parkerson) Galassi.   Mr. Parkerson had one sister, Donna (Parkerson) Huckstadt of Tinley Park, Illinois as well as numerous nieces, nephews, in laws and cousins.  

       A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday November 25, 2020 at 10 am at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1010 Moore Rd., Long Beach, IN.  Visitation will be held at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN  from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday November 24, 2020 and from 9am to 10am Wednesday at the church.   Burial will be at Swan Lake Cemetery following the Mass.  

       Memorial contributions may be made to the Notre Dame School Foundation or the Salvation Army .   

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