Lanny A. Parrish

                Loudonville – Lanny Adrian Parrish, 83, formerly of Danville, passed away at his daughter Nicole’s home on November 26, 2021, where he resided the last six years following a stroke.

                He was born February 9, 1938 to Gaillard A. and Hazel R. (Adrian) Parrish, and graduated from Danville High School in 1956, where he lettered in football his junior and senior years, and was selected as the Mid Buckeye Conference left guard in 1955. Right after graduation, he became a partner at Paint Products where he worked for the next 38 years.

Lanny married his high school sweetheart, Linda A. Hammond, on February 9, 1962. They honeymooned at Daytona Beach where his love of animals led to buying a squirrel monkey that he named Hershel Walker, after astronaut Walker. This is when his love of exotic animals began.

He went on to own the “Danville Zoo” and the “Zoo East” near Brinkhaven for over 40 years. His animals included deer, black bears “Yogi” and “Becky”, buffalo “Bonnie and Clyde”, bobcats, emu and rhea, racoon, mountain lion, a Bengal tiger, snakes, alligator, chinchillas, porcupine, hissing cockroaches, fox, flying squirrels, and “Barf” the buzzard.

In 1960, he joined the Army Reserves for six years. He also joined Big Brothers, serving as Vice President, when the program was first introduced to Knox County, and his first match was Tim Wilson. Along with Jim Proper, he co-owned the Mohican Inn in the early 80’s. Although he never drank the stuff, he was in charge of the beer inventory, and also stocked the coolers for his in-laws at Dale’s Cardinal in Danville. He also served as Chairman on the Commercial and Savings Bank Board in Danville for 24 years, on the Jefferson Township Board of Appeals for 20 years, the American Red Cross Board for 6 years, was past President of the Mount Vernon Numismatic Society, the Mount Vernon Coin Club, of which he was a member for 40 years, and LAP Enterprises for 40 years.

After retirement, Lanny built a cabin on the 4th generation family farm near the Knox and Ashland County line where he used to spend the summers with his grandparents. His family will now continue to enjoy the property for generations to come. This didn’t keep Lanny away from Danville though as he continued to drop off and pick up his grandson Auston from school every day until he could drive. His ornery shenanigans have also been passed on to his great grandkids along with his love of animals and his cabin in Ball Alley.

Lanny was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Linda Parrish, and his half-brother and half-sister, Jack R. Parrish and Martha Ruth Merrill. Surviving are his daughters, Pam (Joe) Zimelis of Danville, Lisa (Terry) Lahmon of Mount Vernon, and Nicole (JD) Monahan of Loudonville, six grandchildren, Jessica (Dr. Tibor) Warganich of South Dakota, Samantha (Mike) Ferenbaugh of Danville, Katlyn Zimelis of Danville, Bethany (Kurt) Heffelfinger of Perrysville, Derek Lahmon of Mount Vernon, and Auston Monahan of Loudonville, seven great grandchildren, Zoey, Cole, and Beau Warganich, Aiden Zimelis and Brantley Zimelis, and Tripp, Tynley, and Taylyn Heffelfinger.

A viewing and visitation will take place from 1-4 p.m. Saturday December 4 at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville. Memorial donations are suggested to the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, PO Box 526 Danville, 43014. Condolences can be shared and a memorial video will be available on Lanny’s obituary page at fischerfuneralhome.com.

Graveside military rites conducted by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will take place at Workman Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 18. 

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