Curtis “Curt” W. Parker, age 56, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, passed away at home on Friday, February 28, 2025.

In September 2022, Curt was diagnosed with cancer as a result of repeated exposures to carcinogens throughout the course of his firefighting career.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Abundant Life, 304 SW Persels Rd., Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64081. Online Condolences can be made here.

Curt was born in Kansas City, Missouri on July 24, 1968. He graduated from Lee's Summit High School in 1986. Following a 1988 conversation with a firefighter, Curt began working as a volunteer firefighter for Prairie Township Fire District in Missouri (now known as Southern Jackson County Fire District). Curt began working as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Belton, Missouri in 1990, and the City of Grandview, Missouri in 1999, and became a certified Swiftwater Rescue Technician. Curt medically retired from the fire service on March 31, 2023.  He never said he "had" to go to work - Curt always felt he "got" to go to work.

Curt received formal firefighter, EMT, and paramedic licensure training through the University of Missouri Fire Rescue Training Institute and the Medical Center of Independence. 

In addition to his full-time firefighter/paramedic work, Curt owned his own excavating business, digging trenches and laying pipe for new residential and commercial electrical service.

From 2006 - 2019, Curt served as a paramedic and logistics officer with the Missouri State Disaster Medical Team ("DMAT") primarily working out of its Kansas City underground warehouse. The team provided medical assistance at concerts, the Missouri State Fair, air shows and weather-related disasters. On May 22, 2011, the team was deployed to Joplin, Missouri, where they constructed a fully-equipped and working M.A.S.H. style tent hospital after an EF-5 tornado devastated the city and destroyed St. John's Regional Medical Center.

When he wasn't working, Curt enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, camping, riding his Harley, trail riding in the side-by-side, and traveling (especially road trips!). Before Curt's cancer diagnosis, he and Karen planned to take their camper, boat, fishing gear, and the Razor on cross-country trips during their retirement years together.

Curt was preceded in death by his father, Terry Parker. He is survived by his wife, Karen Parker; children, Sydney Parker, Samantha Brack, Johnathan Brack and his wife, Courtney Nickerson; parents, Pat and Mike Jones; a brother, Steven Jones; sisters, Marcine (Jones) Carey, Christine (Jones) Anguzza, and Merrilee Parker; and two grandchildren, Mason Brack and Harlynn (Brack) Chism.

In. lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to: https://www.firefightercancersupport.org/how-you-can-help/donate.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278.