Dr. John Parkin, 76

Dr. John Ralph Parkin, 76, died peacefully on Monday, August 28, 2023, after a courageous battle with Cancer.

Celebration of John’s Life Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

John was born on June 6th, 1947, in Rochester, MN, the son of Ralph and Sarah (Hairsine) Parkin. He loved reading, swimming in the outdoor pool, and hanging out with friends but his best memory was when the football coach asked him to come out for football and be the captain because John was the only one who would remember the plays.

He loved when his grandparents and parents would bring him to church so that he could have the opportunity to play with the babies and take care of them in the nursery early on his life. He graduated from Kasson High School in 1965. From 1965 to 1969 he studied at Dartmouth University. In 1969 he was accepted into the University of Minnesota Medical School, he did his internship in 1971 in Bemidji and graduated in 1973. From 1973 to 1975 he did an internship/residency in Pittsfield, MA.

John then returned to Bemidji on August 18, 1975, to start his practice in Bemidji.. He was also one of the major contributors in starting the new clinic/hospital where it currently resides. John was proud to say he was one of the first docs to work in the new ER where it still is today. He was proud to be a founder from the start and a member of the Beltrami County Child Protection Team from 1976-2010, to help protect the children.

John was the “Northern MN doctor” in 1976 who reported the side effect of Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving the Swine Flu immunization that led to this immunization to be suspended. He never liked bragging rights but was very happy that he caught this and reported it to prevent others from this happening to their loved ones. In 1980-1981, John traveled back to Dartmouth to complete another residency to become a Pediatric Physician. While still working in Bemidji he was employed with Wapiti Medical Staffing doing Emergency Room Locum Tenens, for 26 years he worked as a Physician in Bagley, Crookston, Mahnomen, Deer River, Big Fork, Park Rapids, Cook, Fergus Falls, Wadena, Roseau, Baudette, and Bemidji. From 2010-2023 he went to work with Wildgen and Wilimek to be a Pediatric Mental Health Provider continuing to see his ADD, ADHD, Depression, Bipolar patients and stayed when it transferred to Schackman and Kramer.

John worked part time in Baudette, MN for CHI Lakewood Health in which he truly loved being a General Practice Physician and working with the staff of this organization. He knew in his heart that his last week in July of 2023 would be his last day of his career. He dedicated his life knowledge to giving and caring for patients for 48 years with dedication to all that he could serve.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Pamela. He was very blessed to have all these children/grandchildren in his life. His sons, Daniel, Thomas (Lara) with grandson’s Seth and Reed and Michael. Daniel (Jen) with grandchildren, Makayla and Henry, Andrea (Tyler) with grandchildren, Hadley, Blake, and Julia, and Christopher. Nicholas (Jenna), Brandon (Brittny Ali) with grandchildren, Sophia and Landon, Michael, and Zachary (Mikayla).Siblings, Jim (Jan), Mary (Dave) and Ann (Larry) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Special friends, Laurie, May, Colton, Landon, Myron, Jill, Butch and the home health/hospice staff. Pets, Gracie and Cruz. John was preceded in death by his parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and Tate, his rescue dog. Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.