Maxine (Peterson) SMOUSE SPARKS

SPARKS, PETERSON, STOCKWELL, SMOUSE, PFEIL, TOWNE, RYKS, KOSTER, EDQUID, STEARNS, HAY, STEDMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/9/2013 at 14:49:34

September 4, 1920 ---- May 28, 2013

Maxine Sparks, 92 years old, a resident at Valley Vue Care Center, Armstrong, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, May 28, 2013. She was born in Belmond, Iowa on September 4, 1920 to Fred and Florence (nee Stockwell) Peterson. Maxine attended schools in Algona, Iowa and graduated in 1939, where during her Jr. & Sr. years she worked for Dr. Eason as a dental assistant. She married Frank "Fritz" Smouse October 3, 1940 and to this union 2 children were born - Dannie in 1943 and Shirlie in 1948. During this time she attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Iowa and worked in the Curtis Undertaking & Funeral Parlors, Curtis-Smouse Furniture Store, and Smouse TV & Radio Sales & Services all of Swea City, Iowa. Fritz died in an automobile accident June 13, 1969. Maxine worked at the Swea City school as a teacher's assistant before marrying high school sweetheart Lewis "George" Sparks December 27, 1970, at the Methodist church in Swea City. They then moved to Lakewood, Colorado where they both continued teaching. Maxine worked at Alameda High School in Golden, Colorado and Abram Slater Elementary in Lakewood. After George's retirement in 1977, they returned to Swan, Iowa and in 1984, they moved to Pleasantville, Iowa. Maxine was secretary of Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle, Iowa and a member of the Christian Church -Disciples of Christ in Pleasantville. Together, they entered Valley Vue Care Center August 22, 2004. George died July 23, 2009.

Maxine was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine. She loved drawing, poetry, and craftwork. She taught knitting and crocheting, loved to sing and played the violin, viola, keyboard, and whistled. She enjoyed reading to people and volunteered anywhere she felt she was needed. Maxine loved life and people.

Survived by grandchildren Aaron Pfeil of Anchorage, Alaska and Amber Pfeil of Grand Portage, Minnesota and adopted granddaughter Terry Towne of Gowrie, Iowa; great-grandchildren Marah Ryks, Ruthie Pfeil Edquid, Alice and Violet Koster; and great-great-grandchildren Jacob and Ella Ryks. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; children; and infant siblings Violet Mae, Donald Franklin, and Bernice Estella, sister Ida Stearns Hay and adopted brother Walter Stedman Peterson.

Funeral Service -- Monday, June 3, 2013, 11:00 AM - FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SWEA CITY, IA

Interment -- EAST LAWN CEMETERY, ALGONA, IA

http://www.henryolsonfuneral.com/obituaries.aspx?turl=http://hosting-25481.tributes.com/show/maxine-sparks-95900670