Hazel Dorothea Parkinson

Hazel Dorothea Parkinson, 98, of Appleton, passed away at Carolina Assisted Living on February 1, 2021. She was born in New Rome, Wisconsin on January 3, 1923, the daughter of the late William & Vinnie (Schenk) Burhite. She attended Grade School and High School in Wisconsin Rapids, graduating in 1940. She attended the former Wood County Normal School and graduated in 1942. Later in life, Hazel graduated from Fox Valley Technical College graduating in 1974. She taught one school year (1942/43) in Bakersville, Wisconsin. The next year, she worked at A. O. Smith in Milwaukee as an inspector. Then off to Oakland, California in 1944/45 to work at Merchant Company. Later in life, she worked at Peerless Cleaners in Appleton, retiring in 1985.

Hazel enjoyed playing the piano, reading the newspaper out loud to anyone around her, and also on occasion telling stories to the kids in her neighborhood. She also had a love for animals and even nursing wild orphan animals back to health. But most of all she enjoyed bragging about her children.

Hazel married Raymond Parkinson on September 8, 1945 in Wisconsin Rapids. He died on December 16, 1992. Ray and Hazel have 5 children; Billie (Charles) Danoff, James (Barbara) Parkinson, Cheryl Parkinson, Vickie (Brian) Rusch, and Kristi Parkinson. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law; Frank (Vera) Burhite. Hazel was preceded in death by her sisters and brothers (and their spouses); Ruth (Bob) Hetze, Robert (Rose Marie) Burhite, Della (Wilbert) Kronholm, Rose (Joe) Danek, Edward (Janet) Burhite.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday February 10, 2021 at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St, Appleton. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed. The livestream will be accessible on Hazel’s obituary page on the Wichmann Funeral Home’s website.

The family requests that mask and social distancing policies are adhered to.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.