Harold Parker Gleason, Jr. (“Parkie”) passed away on September 27, 2026. He was born March 21, 1941, in Rolla, Missouri, to Harold and Margaret Gleason. After marrying Paula in 1965 in Springfield, Missouri, Parkie turned his artistic talent into his life’s work. In a 1920s department store building he created his art studio, Parkie’s Stained Glass. It was here that he created works for many area churches, Bass Pro properties, including Big Cedar Lodge, and various home and commercial pieces from New York to Greece to Haiti. He was fond of saying, “I never ‘worked’ a day in my life after starting a business doing what I loved.”

Beyond his work as an artist, Parkie was known for his creativity, ingenuity, and unmistakable sense of humor. He loved classical music, good cigars, and bourbon. But most of all, he loved his family. Parkie never lost the quirky humor that was so much a part of who he was, and he kept making those around him laugh right to the end.

Parkie is survived by his children, Stacia (Rick) Garland, Prairie Village, KS; Christie (John) Caudillo, Lenexa, KS; Paul (Elaine) Gleason, Lenexa, KS; Carrie Gleason (Mo Mora), St Robert, MO. Grandchildren, Wyatt Newport (Jessica), Emily Beeler (Sean), Joseph Caudillo, Lucia Caudillo, Hannah Caudillo, Parker Gleason and bonus grandchildren, Jacob, Kat and Jennifer. He is also survived by sister Nancy (Jim) Horne and is predeceased by his wife, Paula (Hood) and his parents, Harold Parker Gleason and Margaret (Spradling) Gleason.

A celebration of his life will be held at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS at 11:00 am, Tuesday, October 6th. Pastor Jeff Lunn will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.