David "Jay" Sparks 1925-2012

WILLIAMS SPARKS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/28/2012 at 21:42:13

Sioux City Journal
14 December 2012

David J. Sparks, 87, of Des Moines, formerly of Moville, died Monday Dec. 10, 2012, in Des Moines.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Moville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Edward Frank officiating. Burial will be in Arlington Township Cemetery in Moville. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of McCulloch Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

David "Jay" Sparks was born June 22, 1925, in Moville, to Francis and Bessie (Williams) Sparks. He graduated from Moville High School in 1942. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served in naval intelligence. He was stationed in Hawaii, and was with the Marines when they invaded Guam. He worked on intercepting and decoding Japanese communications.

After the service he went to college at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, graduating in 1949 with a degree in mathematics. He became a math and science teacher and a coach for the Clutier (Iowa) School System and took the baseball team to the state tournament. After his father's death, he returned to run the family farm until he retired in 1996.

He was a member of Moville United Methodist Church and a 51-year member of American Legion Wink-Sparks Post 303, where he was past post commander. He loved to golf and was an original member of Meadows Country Club in Moville. He served on the Woodbury Central Board of Education for 10 years, serving as board president during the construction of the new school. He moved to Des Moines in January to be closer to family.

Survivors include his three children, Staci Gilpin of Duluth, Minn., Stefanie Sparks of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Kurt Sparks of Des Moines; two sisters, Lee McElrath and Millie Bowers, both of Moville; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Marion, Jim, Dale, Bill, Burt and Helen.

Memorials may be directed to Woodbury Central Boosters Club.