Glen "Sparkie" Howard Sparks (1936-2008)

SPARKS, SLATER, TAYLOR, OKANE, NICHOLSON, MCINTOSH, STROZEWSKI

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/22/2008 at 16:16:49

The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Marshalltown

Glen "Sparkie" Howard Sparks, 71 of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, formerly Des Moines, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2008.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Schroeder ~ Walter Funeral Home at Fifth and Story Streets in Boone. Rev. Steve Williams will officiate. Burial will be in the Boone Memorials Gardens with full military honors.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 20, at the Schroeder ~ Walter Funeral Home 4 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be given to the Iowa Veterans Home in memory of Glen H. Sparks.

Glen was born on December 19, 1936 in Des Moines the son of Howard E. and Theola Faye (Slater) Sparks. He graduated from Colo High School in 1956.

He married Betty Lou Taylor in 1956. Born of this marriage were three children. The couple later divorced. After returning home from the US Army in 1960, he worked at a locker plant, painted houses and worked as a farmhand. He then worked at Singer Company as a district manager for over 30 years. Glen then bought a dealership in Des Moines and worked there until 1993, he was also an auctioneer with G and B Enterprises in Waukee.

Glen was a member of the Kingsway Cathedral in Des Moines. He enjoyed fishing, boxing, and watching the Hawkeyes.

Glen is preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; Donald, Raymond, Leroy and Charles Sparks He is survived by his three children, Mindi O'Kane, Tony Dale Taylor Sparks and Tami L. Sparks all of Des Moines; two grandchildren, Alan Nicholson of Sunset, LA and James "Mike" Nicholson of San Diego, CA; his seven brothers, William of Bettendorf, IA; Robert (Arlene) of Milan, MO; Phillip (Linda) of Fort Dodge, Richard (Vicki) of Tomah, WI; Ray (Annette) of Sevierville, TN; Jack (Sally) of Round Rock, TX; Terry "TJ" of GA; four sisters, Shirley McIntosh of Boone, Donna Sparks of Ames, Dolores Strozewski (Tunney) of Pleasant Hill, IA; Dinah Sparks of Tomah, WI. and many nieces and nephews.

Schroeder ~ Walter Funeral Home at Fifth and Story Streets in Boone is in charge of the arrangements.