Warren Brent Parkin

Warren Brent Parkin, 57, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend, having earlier that day been surrounded by family in the Salt Lake Temple, passed away suddenly June 13, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah while having fun in the midst of life's spectacular wonders kayaking in the Jordan River. Brent was born May 17, 1962 in Salt Lake City to Jean Carlisle Holder and Warren Dean Parkin, and was raised with a brother, Steve, and two sisters, Peri and Pam.

Brent grew up in the East Millcreek area on La Mesa Road and attended Skyline High School. He served a mission in Atlanta, Georgia. He married his sweetheart and fellow seminary council officer, Melissa Madsen, in the Salt Lake Temple on August 1, 1984. Brent and Melissa enjoyed 35 eventful years together, and they gracefully enjoyed the love of raising their family of 7 children together in the shadows of the Mount Olympus foothills. Brent loved Melissa with all of his heart, and gave all that he had for her and their family. He was always looking for an adventure and lived a full life. He especially looked forward to adventures with family and friends, snowmobiling, boating, and exploring the outdoors. They enjoyed going on fun family vacations to the top of the mountains of Brighton, Utah, to the desert landscapes of St. George, Utah, and to the coastal oceans of San Clemente, California, and generally to all places where they were together as a family. Brent and Melissa enjoyed growing in the gospel as a family with their 7 children. All 7 of their children have served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ‚ Massachusetts Boston (KariAnne), New York Utica (Michael), Arizona Mesa ASL (Taylor), China Hong Kong (Rob), Argentina Rosario (Kaitlin), Georgia Atlanta (Jacob) and Chile Concepci√≥n South (Kourtnee).

Brent attended the Salt Lake Community College, the University of Utah and earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Weber State University in 1986. Brent's life story could be told through his hands. His hands were industrious and hardworking from an early age, creating several of his own businesses, including, Park N' Haul, electrical wiring, the neighborhood mechanic and recently adding shooting firework shows to his eclectic resume, and many others. He worked for P.W. Madsen Furniture Company throughout his college years and had an opportunity to work closely with his late father in-law, Richard H. Madsen. Brent began his engineering career in 1984 with Utah Power & Light now known as Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp. Brent worked for PacifiCorp for over 34 years, recently serving in the electrical power substation maintenance department. He also worked to develop curriculum and training programs for hundreds of apprentices throughout the entire PacifiCorp Company.

Brent served as a member of the Utah Power Credit Union Board of Directors for 25 years. He was dedicated and passionate about his service to the Utah Power Credit Union with his hands providing members with a sense of belonging and means to achieve financial security. Brent was an action oriented self-starter, a conscientious working man, a committed and productive leader, and an encouraging and inspirational example to others. His hands were strong, loving, and kind as he provided a gentle source of wisdom and strength.

Brent's hands showed his love of "tinkering" with "toys". Although Brent enjoyed all toys, he mostly enjoyed anything and everything motorized and mechanical ‚ motorcycles, snowmobiles, wave runners, boats, etc. He enjoyed the process of pulling a trailer to an activity as much as the activity itself. Brent frequented machine shops, automotive parts stores, and countless numbers of warehouses throughout the state and even turned his own garage into a full-service shop. Often as someone visited our home they would leave to find that their headlights had been polished, washer fluid topped off or tires filled with air. He felt ownership to all those that traveled on our corner of the world to improve their vehicle's performance and called out to have them pull into the driveway to come put air in their bike tires, sharpen a blade or help any engine run smoother. He welcomed the challenge. Brent's hands were capable of fixing anything, and he counseled and worked with many to solve specialized mechanical issues. His hands were calloused and rough from the work he enjoyed and the work he continuously performed for others. Every day since his passing we continue to receive parts that have been shipped to our home for his ongoing projects.

Among Brent\s greatest interests was his love of helping others. He found great joy in teaching someone a new skill while working with him in the garage. His hands were always available to serve on a moment's notice, and he would drop his own personal activities, to help those in need. Brent was drawn to those with goodness in their hearts, and earnestly strived to help others shine. Brent gave freely of himself and found joy in the success and happiness of others. His family, friends and all those that have come across his path have known of his loyal, selfless support at each and every stage of life's moments, big and small. Brent simply gave of his time, talents and expertise to help others live better lives.

Theodore Roosevelt said, that which also exemplifies Brent\s life ‚

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Brent served in numerous capacities for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a faithful servant of his Heavenly Father providing service with his heart and his hands. He served in several Bishoprics with men he loved and admired, as a perennial Scoutmaster who assisted countless young men to earn the Eagle rank, as a youth Sunday School teacher, as a volunteer building maintenance coordinator, and as a devoted home teacher. He admired those in the scouting leadership who in turn presented him to receive the Silver Beaver scouting award. Brent loved the people he served, who in turn loved him for his compassionate and dedicated service and his unique and straightforward way of loving others. People were drawn to Brent ‚ who always found similarities and shared interests with those around him. Through Brent's sincere desire to care for, administer to, and to promote others, his hands provided service on numerous occasions, whether in rain, snow, or heat to run to the rescue of others.

Brent was always ready with a joke and enjoyed seeing people smile. Brent is a choice son of our Father in Heaven, and we are strengthened by our knowledge of eternal families. We will remember his strong comforting hands, laughter, love of people, service to others, and joy for life. Brent is survived by his wife, Melissa Madsen Parkin; his children, KariAnne (Benjamin) Spicer, Sequim, Washington; Michael Widtsoe Parkin, Taylor Madsen (Angela) Parkin, Robert Durham Parkin, Kaitlin Parkin, Jacob Armstrong Parkin, all of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kourtnee Parkin, currently serving in Concepción, Chile as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and found absolute delight with his three granddaughters, Annalise Spicer, Madison Spicer, and Adelaide Parkin, and his loyal Boston Terrier companion Baxter; his parents, Jean Carlisle Holder and Warren Dean Parkin; sister Peri (Heber) Bennion; his brother Steven Dean (Kris) Parkin; and sister Pam Parkin, all of Salt Lake City, Utah; mother in-law, Doralee Durham Madsen, brothers and sisters in-law, Suzanne Madsen, Kristin (Craig) Angelos, Annette (Mike) Knudson, Richard (Sydnee) Madsen, II, Michael (Erin) Madsen, DeDee Madsen, Allyson (Scott) Steed, Wallace (Kasey) Madsen, Asheley (James) Watabe and over 60 loved nieces and nephews. Brent was surrounded by numerous other family members and friends who have each been personally touched, inspired and lifted by his sincerity and care for them. To each of you, we are eternally grateful for the love and support you have given to Brent, to our family and to all things good. Brent\s countless acts of love and kindness to others resulted in many cherished friendships. We thank you for your abundance of love and concern for Brent.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 12:00 noon at the Mt. Olympus Stake Center, 4176 South Adonis Drive (3950 East), Millcreek, Utah. Viewings will be Friday evening, June 21, 2019, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mount Olympus Stake Center and Saturday morning at the church prior to services from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Brent's memory and his passion for helping others to live life to its fullest at give.lds.org/humanitarian, or to another charity of your choice in his honor.

The family would like to thank the neighbors and saints of the Mt. Olympus Stake, extended family and friends for their kindness, help and support.