Obituary of Parker J. Leikam

Parker Joseph Leikam, 18 years old, was born November 24th, 1997 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. A military kid, he also lived in Ansbach, and Illesheim Germany, Ft. Hood, TX and for the last 7 years, Adams Center, NY. He is survived by his father and mother, Charles E. and Kristen K. Leikam and brother Foster E. Leikam, 15 of Adams Center and brother Mitchell Z. Leikam, 23 of Corvallis, Oregon, Maternal Grandmother Georgia C. Mitchell and Step Grandfather Duane Ellenberger of North Port, Florida, 3 Uncles, 3 Aunts and many cousins. He was proceeded in death by his Maternal Grandfather George D. Mitchell, his Paternal Grandmother, Maggie Leikam and his Paternal Grandfather, Robert J. Leikam Services will be held as follows: Visitation is Tuesday, March 29th from 4pm to 7pm and the venue has been changed from Piddock Funeral Home in Adams to the Adams Village Baptist Church, 24 East Church Street, Adams, NY. Memorial/Celebration of Life is Wednesday, March 30th 7pm at South Jefferson High School Auditorium followed with a dessert reception as Parker was all about his cupcakes. Parker will be cremated and in loving memory of his well known Mickey Mouse impersonation, his ashes will be put to rest in a Mickey Mouse cookie jar and will be gradually scattered around the World during his family’s travels. If anyone is traveling and wants to share Parker with the World and the World with Parker, please let us know. As a request from the family, if you have one favorite picture, please bring it with you with a written down favorite memory to post on a board at the visitation or memorial. A Candle Light vigil was held at South Jefferson on Saturday, March 26th where bow ties and football jerseys were worn with support and love. Parker Leikam, Singer, Actor, Musician extraordinaire and mediocre, but enthusiastic, well loved and supported #76 football player was killed Wednesday afternoon in a head on collision by an erratic driver. There are just too many wonderful qualities to list, but here are a few. Parker was heavily involved in musical theater, his true love, and was in multiple performances in major roles throughout his career with Stage Notes of Watertown under the loving direction of his mentor Ticia Marra, Lyric Theater or Watertown and South Jefferson High School, where just last weekend, he played his final performance as Beast in Beauty and the Beast. His powerful performance brought many to tears. One of his favorite roles was Buddy the Elf in Elf Jr. which was held over this past Christmas. For 3 years, everyone at school saw him dressed as Buddy and handing out candy canes the last day of school before break. He was destined with his 6’3” 280 lb. frame to play the role. Stage Notes has been a huge presence in his life where they are known for performance with a purpose. Parker has been a big part of raising money for their charity, helping raise thousands which have gone forward to Urban Mission and other charities. He was also a religious blood donor through the Red Cross, rolling up his sleeves and giving double donations every chance he could. A high school senior, he was planning on making his college choice this week where he would have been majoring in musical theater and English education. His big dream was to be on Broadway and that dream came true Wednesday night. Ted Keegan, who plays Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, not only dedicated his show to Parker, but also wore bow ties throughout the performance in memory of Parker as he was very known for his bow ties. There is now a Bow Ties for Parker campaign or #bowtiesforParker and many will be wearing bow ties or their football Jerseys in support during his wake and memorial. Many theater performances that are up and coming are not only going to be dedicated to Parker, they are going to have players in bow ties. The Lyric Theater is setting up a scholarship fund in Parker’s memory and there are other scholarship and charity groups that are being formed. He sang at every opportunity he could get and was well known for his beautiful and powerful voice. He was also known amongst his friends as the best hugger and someone who could always make others laugh. He was very comfortable in his own skin and made everyone else around him feel accepted and loved. He loved playing instruments. He went in his Junior year to All State for Tuba and played any other instrument he could pick up, to include French Horn and Bass Guitar. He loved to volunteer in the special education room and the kids adored him. He was embraced by young and old. Children would flock to him and he had many adult friends that saw him not as a high school kid, but one of their peers. Other credits to his name are National Honor Society where he was in the top 10 of his class, A Whiz Quiz member and part of the team that won the 2014 international championship, he was in the past, involved in dance at Rhonda’s Footworks, Dance World and South .Jefferson, and was in The Islanders, a barbershop singing group out of Watertown as their youngest member. He also advanced to the European Championships International Spelling Bee and was on an Odyssey of the Mind team in Germany that advanced to US level. There are other things he has been involved in, but there is just too much to list. A person’s life isn’t measured in years, it’s measured in the amount of people’s lives they change. Parker has impacted more people’s lives in his short 18 years than most people do in a full lifetime. Everyone who knew him, and even people who didn’t, have been impacted by what an incredible person and talent has been lost to the World. He had so much more left to give, but what he did give was a true gift. He will be loved and missed always. In lieu of flowers, we are asking in his memory to donate to Stage Notes of Watertown, Lyric theater’s scholarship fund or a favorite charity of your choice as Parker was always a giving soul and charity to others was close to his heart as were all his family and friends. As Parker would want to give – (((HUGS)))