The Honorable Robert James Parins, 98, Green Bay, died Friday, May 26, 2017. He was born on August 23, 1918, in the former Town of Preble, now city of Green Bay, to Frank and Antoinette (Denissen) Parins. Robert's mother died at the age of 26, later Frank married Gertrude Denissen. Frank and Gertrude, along with Grandmother Mary (Emil) Parins, managed the family for the next many years.
Robert attended Green Bay East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He graduated from the University of Madison Law School in 1942. In 1941, Robert married his college sweetheart, Elizabeth Louise Carroll. On February 8, 2017, they celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary.
After graduation, Robert accepted a job with Employer's Mutual of Wausau and on June 1, 1942, started work as an adjuster in Minneapolis, MN. In 1944, Robert and Elizabeth returned to Green Bay and Robert began to practice law with Meyer Cohen. He continued his successful practice of law with the firm until he was elected Circuit Court Judge for the 14th Judicial Circuit serving Brown, Door and Kewaunee counties in 1968. As a Circuit Judge, he served throughout the state and lectured at the Wisconsin Judicial College and the National College of the State Trial Judges in Reno, NV. He also lectured for trial judges in the states of Michigan and West Virginia. All throughout this time, he stayed active with community work.
The Judge retired as Circuit Judge in 1982 to serve as the President of the Green Bay Packers. He served in this capacity until 1989 when he returned to the bench as a Reserve Judge. Robert was a member of the Packers Board of Directors for 28 years and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1998. He became active in mediation and arbitration, handling over 1000 cases over the next nine years. He retired at the age of 88.
Robert had a love of all sports. Besides his service to the Packers organization, he enjoyed bowling, baseball, golfing (25 cents a hole with Butch, Len and Larry), and fishing on the bay, the lake or in Canada with Hilly and the guys. Robert took extreme pleasure in his summer cottage and every single minute of the time spent with the horses out at the barn. He especially enjoyed riding the horses at the Red Hills Ranch.
Robert is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; five children and their spouses, Claire (James) Braun, Andree (John) Chamberlin, Richard (Kristine) Parins, Teresa (Robert) Eckberg, LuAnn Parins (Mark Weinheimer); eleven grandchildren, Christine (Mike) Matysik, Vicky (Bruce) Brunner, Joe (Karen) Eckberg, Jason (Anne) Burroughs, Alison (Scott) Czarnecki, Toni (Sarmad) Ashfaq, Patricia (Leon) Lemke, Katy (Nate) Gray, Bob Parins, Justin (Kris Adams) Eckberg, Zac (Erin) Eckberg; 27 great-grandchildren ; four sisters, Annette (Shelby Guillette) Watkins, Cecily Blazer, Pauline McAbee, Mary (Joe) Brusky; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Antoinette (Denissen) Parins; his step-mother, Gertrude Parins; his siblings, Irvin Parins, Peter Parins, Lloyd (Audrey Salmon) Parins, Pearl (Harvey) VanDenLangenberg, Betty Jane (Marvin) Stone, Katherine Ashbaugh; brothers-in-law, Pat Blazer and Louis McAbee. He was also preceded in death by his great-granddaughter, Brianna Brunner.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. A Parish Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. Friends may also call at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, 645 S. Irwin St., from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with Rev. Anthony Cirignani, OFM officiating. Entombment will be in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
A memorial fund has been established in Robert's name to benefit the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.
The Parins family extends their gratitude to the staffs of Home Instead Senior Care, Heartland Hospice and Emerald Bay Retirement Community.
Published in Green Bay Press-Gazette from May 28 to May 31, 2017
More on Robert Parins and the Packers here and here.