Leila Parnell

Leila J. "Le" Parnell, 81, of Casa Grande died on April 19, 2012, at Oasis Pavilion Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
The celebration of life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel, with the Rev. Duane Bottjen officiating.
Ms. Parnell was born on Aug. 15, 1930, in Worthington, Minn., to Barney and Lydia Fink, the first of seven children. After high school graduation she left that area. In 1951 she moved to Portland, Ore., where she met Ernest H. Parnell and married him on Oct. 17, 1952. In 1960 they moved to Minnesota. She loved to sing and for many years was a member of Sweet Adelines International. She worked as a bookkeeper and loved to travel.
In 1971 she divorced and became a single parent. She was a bookkeeper for Medtronic for many years. In 1974 she married Richard Streich and became a stepmother to four sons, Jeff, John, Jerry and Joe. The couple opened an appliance repair business, coin-operated laundry and dry cleaning business. In 1982 Ms. Parnell became disabled after a car crash. She continued to work in bookkeeping and parts ordering. In 1991 she divorced Richard. She moved to Casa Grande to be near her sister Ladonna. She became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and made many new friends. She enjoyed knitting, ceramics, baking, crafts and travel. She was known for her sense of humor and adventure.
Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Strausburger of Chicago; a son, Roger A. Parnell of Liberty Hill, Texas; two sisters, Ladonna Sampson of Casa Grande and Janice Poppen of Sioux Falls, S.D.; four brothers, Robert Fink of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Richard Fink of Milford, Kan., Thomas Fink of Eloy and James Fink of Minneota, Minn.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane M. Bush.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Trinity Lutheran Stained-glass Window Fund, 1428 N. Pueblo Drive, Casa Grande, AZ 85122; the American Cancer Society; or a charity of the donor's choice.