Butch Parks of Okoboji, Iowa Remembered as Marina Owner and Community Leader
BUTCH PARKS, the longtime marina owner and community fixture, passed away Wednesday, leaving the Okoboji, Iowa area mourning the loss of a man whose influence shaped the region for more than four decades.
Leo “Butch” Parks was a devoted husband to his wife, Debbie Parks, and a loving father to their children. Together, they built not only a successful family business but a legacy that became deeply woven into the identity of Okoboji and the greater Iowa Great Lakes community.
The Parks family owned and operated Parks Marina, including its Sioux Falls location, along with the well-known Barefoot Bar on East Lake Okoboji. They also owned Okoboji Boat Works for 24 years before selling the business last year. Through these ventures, Parks played a major role in transforming Okoboji into one of the Midwest’s most recognized lake destinations.
Parks Marina on East Lake Okoboji was established in 1983, when Butch Parks purchased what was then Gibson Sporting Goods. What began as a small fishing boat sales and repair operation grew into one of the region’s most influential marine businesses. The marina became known not only for its services, but for developing people and careers.
That impact was highlighted in a widely shared tribute from Nick Christensen, who credited Parks with shaping both his career and character. Christensen wrote that Parks believed in building “rockstars,” noting that many successful professionals across the community began their careers at Parks-owned businesses.
Former employees remember Parks as a demanding yet deeply invested mentor, known for his strong work ethic and memorable sayings such as, “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean,” and, “It’s not my fault, but it’s my problem.” Many say those lessons still guide them today.
Beyond business, Parks was instrumental in redefining Okoboji’s lake culture. In the early 2000s, he helped create the Barefoot Bar, a boat-up, family-friendly destination that became a cornerstone of summer life on the lake and a gathering place for generations of visitors.
Friends and colleagues describe Parks as someone who valued seeing others succeed as much as his own achievements. Many credit him with teaching the importance of responsibility, attention to detail, and leaving every place better than it was found.
As word of his passing spread, tributes poured in from across Iowa and beyond, honoring a man whose influence reached far beyond docks and dealerships. For many, Butch Parks was not only a business owner, but a builder of community, opportunity, and lasting memories.
His legacy lives on through his family, the businesses he built, and the countless people who proudly say they got their start working for him.
