Brad Parkins, 53, of Hinsdale, passed away April 9, 2023, peacefully in his home surrounded by family after a 34-month journey with brain cancer.
Brad grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wis., and proudly attended Richards Elementary (to which he would always add "Home of the Tigers!") and Whitefish Bay High School ("Home of the Blue Dukes!"). Whitefish Bay was his happy place, as it was a source of great joy for him throughout his life.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire alongside dear friends, Brad went on to have an incredible sales and marketing career in the higher education publishing industry. Brad spent most of his professional life at Pearson Education, where he was widely respected and admired for his character, authenticity and leadership. Throughout his career, Brad received many accolades including the Buffalo Award, Marketing Manager of the Year, Product Team of the Year, First Edition of the Year Award, the Discipline Achievement Award, Revision of the Year and multiple Marketing Superstar awards. Brad also achieved his targets year after year as a sales representative.
Brad's defining roles were husband to Jen, his wife of 20 years, and father to his two children, Katherine "Katie," 19, and Jack, 17. As a husband and father, Brad filled their lives with belly laughs, all-encompassing love, unwavering support, genuine kindness and countless days and nights filled with cheering on the Green Bay Packers, with full-face paint and wigs included. Together, as a family, they learned that the most beautiful moments were spent right at home snuggled on the couch.
He touched the lives of countless friends and colleagues with his big-hearted personality, quick wit and charm.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas (Patti Levin) Parkins.
He is survived by his wife, Jen; his children, Katie and Jack; his mother, Ann Parkins (James) Magestro; his brother, Daniel (Stephanie) Parkins; his sisters, Megan (Adam) Hendrickson and Amy (Jack Johnson) Parkins; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will take place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Pilot Project Brewing, 1130 N. Ninth St. Milwaukee, followed by a reception and celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Institute at Northwestern University at http://www.nm.org/BradParkins.
Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
