WKC’s Manfred Parker fund for Whitewater Racing Programs

Manfred Parker was a long time WKC member born in 1923. His wife, Diane Parker, has recently fulfilled Manfred’s wish to gift the Washington Kayak Club a generous fund to support the club’s Whitewater Racing Programs.

WKC’s initial plan for the fund is to invest in the restoration and enhancement of the permanent slalom course on the Cedar River at Landsburg, to upgrade race equipment, and to support slalom clinics, and youth slalom racers.

Manfred became a role model to many of us as an example of someone who stayed active and healthy very late into life. Many will remember seeing him paddle class III whitewater into his late eighties! And he also raced slalom at the Cedar, Salmon la Sac and Chilliwack into his eighties always striving to be a better paddler. He only stopped coming to race events when he couldn’t carry his boat to the start and/or finish of the course. Because he would never let you help him. Of course, he would also never tell you his age and always refused to be put in an age category when he registered for slalom races! He was a US Slalom National Champion. He was an avid outdoor athlete in other sports also and excelled as a ski racer both downhill and cross-country, and was a water skier, bicyclist and windsurfer.

He was a kind and caring person who always tried to help his friends achieve a healthy life, primarily by what he ate! I still have his recipe for Power Muffins. To quote Manfred: “Use organic products. Don't wrap food in plastic wrap. Do you want to paddle better, etc.? Eat healthier”. He also spent many hours stretching and doing exercises and maintaining all those well used and aging body parts in order to continue the sports he loved.

Manfred Parker died on Saturday, November 27, 2014 at his home in Birch Bay, Washington. He was 91 years old. Manfred was born on March 18, 1923 near Berlin, Germany. His parents, moved to New York in the 1930s.

Manfred earned his veterinary degree at Middlesex University in Massachusetts in 1943. He had large animal practices in both Arkansas and Oklahoma. Later, he had a career with the USDA in meat inspection services, and retired in 1981. He once told me that this is why he never ate any poultry or meat products!

Manfred is survived by his wife, Diane Parker. They met in Seattle in 1971 and enjoyed 42 years of marriage.

hope slough, BC 2006

Shonnet Allen

manfred paddling

Shonnet Allen