Arthur L. Spraker 1915 - 2000

SPRAKER, BROWN, CLARK, INGWERSEN, HILBRANT

Posted By: debbie (email)
Date: 2/26/2007 at 22:35:22

The Burlington Hawkeye, July 21, 2000

Arthur Spraker

Arthur L. Spraker, 84, of Mount Pleasant, died at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2000, at the Henry County Health Center.

Born Nov. 27, 1915, in Frederick, S.D., he was the son of Arthur Leroy and Minnie Brown Spraker. He married Anna Lorraine Clark June 18, 1937. He married Pauline Pounds Ingwersen Dec. 12, 1959, in Mount Pleasant.

Mr. Spraker was a meat cutter and worked at Walgreen's Grocery in Mount Pleasant and retired after 15 years as a meat cutter at Hy-Vee Grocery in Mount Pleasant.

He was a World War II Navy veteran, having served in the South Pacific theater. From his ship, the U.S.S. Sanborn, a fast attack transport, he witnessed the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in February 1945.

He was a life member of both the Henry County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2561 and the American Legion Bob Tribby Post 58. He was a charter member of the local Moose Lodge No. 1081.

Mr. Spraker was an active member of the Mount Pleasant Men's Bowling Association, serving as secretary-treasurer for more than 30 years. He had coached junior bowlers for more than 35 years. He was an active volunteer at Midwest Old Threshers for a number of years, earning a 1000-hour volunteer pin. His activities included assisting with school tours, volunteering in information booths during the reunions, as well as helping with the distribution of souvenirs to various locations.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Clark "Corky" Spraker of West Burlington; one daughter, Jeanie Hilbrant of Muscatine; one stepson, Stevan Ingwersen of Blue Grass; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters, one stepson, and one granddaughter.

Visitation will begin at noon today at the Beatty Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Spraker will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kiboko Kiboko officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery with full military rites by the Henry County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2561 and the Bob Tribby American Legion Post 58.

Memorials have been established for the Midwest Old Threshers Foundation and the First United Methodist Church.