William M. Spratt 1855-1937

SPRATT, SAUERMAN, REEDER, WOODYARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/28/2010 at 23:30:48

Wm. Spratt Funeral Rites Here Thursday
Funeral rites were held Thursday afternoon at the Sternborg chapel for William M. Spratt, who died March 22 at 10:15 p.m. at the home of his sons Charles and George Spratt in Boone. The Rev. H. G. Bachman of the Free Methodist church officiated at the services. Pall bearers were Charles Levell, Percy Holmes, David Ingvall, J. W. Pannell, Frank Doughty and . .. …….. Burial was in Oakhill cemetery.

Mr. Spratt had been in poor health for five years but was not confined to his bed until a month before his death. He was born Sept. 12, 1855 in Sunberry, Pa., and came to Iowa in 1867. He moved to Muscatine and on Jan. 25, 1887 he was united in marriage to Sarah Ellen Sauerman of Bluegrass, Ia. They moved to Walnut and then to several different locations until 1914 when the family moved to Estherville.

Mr. Spratt became a Christian when a young man and joined the Methodist church. He later joined the Free Methodist church. He will be missed not only by his family but by a large group of friends.

He is survived by seven children: Mrs. James Reeder of Estherville, Mrs. R. J. Woodyard of Spencer, Irma of Cherokee, Charles and George and Edwin of Boon, Erwin of Emmetsburg. His wife and one granddaughter preceded him in death.

Father is gone, but not forgotten;
Only lost from present view;
He has left this world of suffering,
Somewhere else to live anew.
In the shining courts of glory
He’ll be waiting for us there;
Then be ready, precious loved ones,
For this hour you must prepare.

Father’s gone, but not forgotten –
Precious mem’ries linger still;
And his precious love and kindness;
None but God can ever fill.
Our hearts are sad, but we rejoice that one more soul has reached the city safely.

(Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 30, 1937)