Milita Rose Parliament

Milita (Mitzi) Rose Jankee, Parliament passed away on Monday, October 17, 2016 at Horizon Senior Living facility in West Branch, MI, surrounded by her loving family.

Mitzi was born in Chicago, IL. in 1918 to Adolph Jankee and Wanda Drefs, Jankee. Her parents were German/Polish immigrants who met and married after arriving in this country. She grew up in Chicago, worked for Sears Roebuck & Co., and then went to Wisconsin to help her mom and dad work on their farm.

WWII was on. During a trip to visit her sister Elsie and bother-in-law Joe, who were stationed in California, Mitzi met a soldier on the train, Sydney DeVere Parliament. They had long conversations on the trip, one date in California and exchanged letters after the war ended. Sydney was sent to Japan and Mitzi stayed to help her sister. While on leave DeVere took Mitzi to meet his family. On her way home to Wisconsin she stopped in Chicago and bought her wedding dress.

Mitzi and DeVere were married in Owen, Wisconsin on December 29, 1945. They returned to the family farm in Michigan, raised five children and hosted three exchange students. She was a 4-H leader, worked at Normans, retired from the county courthouse and was a member of Churchill United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, crocheting, listening to music, dancing and traveling. Her travels with DeVere included Michigan campgrounds, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, Alaska, Germany and Poland.

Mitzi loved everyone unconditionally. She was a genius of a mother and made each of her children feel they were special without making the others feel any less special. She was loved in life and will be loved as long as her children and grandchildren live. She will be sorely missed.

Mitzi was the eldest daughter of Wanda Drefs, Jankee and Adolph Jankee and sister of Arthur Jankee and Elsie Jankee, Engle (Joe). She was the beloved wife of Sydney DeVere Parliament and was the much loved mother of Kathy Parliament, Sincerbeau (Scott), Carol Parliament, Speranza (Joe), Douglas Parliament, (Connie L) Connie Parliament, and Dwight Parliament, (Julie). She had 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her mother; father, brother, sister and husband.

Visitation at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will begin on Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016 at Churchill United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Selkirk Cemetery. Pastor Brenda Klacking will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Helping Hands and/or Churchill United Methodist Church.

Funeral arrangements will be handled by Steuernol and McLaren Funeral Homes Inc. www.steuernolmclaren.com