July 5, 2023
Pages 5565-5567
Whole Number 195
SOME SPARKS OBITUARIES
POWESHIEK COUNTY, IOWA
[Editor's Note: We are grateful to Lillian Peterka of Swisher, Iowa, for the following abstracts of obituaries on file in the Poweshiek County, Iowa, Historical Society in Montezuma, Iowa.]
Bessie Sparks, age 99, daughter of Arend and Jennie Pietersma Jelsma, born February 27, 1894, died May 30, 1993, at Lynnville, Iowa; married to Glen Sparks on May 1, 1919; one daughter, Minerva Genevieve. Burial in Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville.
Harold Sparks (clipping, undated), of El Cajon, California, formerly of Grinnell, Iowa, died January 19, in El Cajon. He was born February 7, 1927, in Grinnell. Retired from the U.S. Navy. Survived by wife and four children and his mother, Beulah Sparks, all of El Cajon.
Blanche Sparks, age 95, daughter of Louis and Louise Renaud Scull, born December 21, 1904, Lynnville, Iowa; died February 26, 2000, Grinnell, Iowa; married Millard D. Sparks May 29, 1929, children: James Sparks of Newton, Iowa; Katherine Wilmer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Maida Dunwoody of Iowa Falls, Iowa. Burial in Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville, Iowa.
Beulah M. Sparks, age 83, daughter of Lawrence and Emma Yount Bench, born September 1, 1906, in Paris, Arkansas; died March 11, 1989, at Lemon Grove, California; married to Donald Sparks on August 29, 1931, in Unionville, Missouri; one son, Harold Sparks. Lived in Grinnell, Iowa, many years; burial in Hazelwood Cemetery, Grinnell, Iowa.
Daisy Sparks, age 84, daughter of Noble J. and Mary Jane Bicknell Border Fugard; born July 19, 1907, in Des Moines, Iowa; died June 29, 1991, in Newton, Iowa; married George Brown on June 3, 1925, in Grinnell, Iowa; married Elmer D. Sparks on March 2, 1944, in Troy, Kansas. Survived by children of first marriage and step-children; preceded in death by both husbands; burial in Newton Union Cemetery.
Doyle Sparks, son of Ralph and Effie Sparks, born February 6, 1907, at Lynnville, Iowa; died November 18, 1963, in Newton, Iowa; married March 30, 1932, to Alfreda Bettis, at Bethany, Missouri. Children: Larry Sparks, Mrs. Duane Sonquist of Garner, Iowa, one son deceased. Survived by mother, Effie Sparks, of Newton; brothers: Albert, Elmer, and L. M. Sparks of Newton, brother Clair Sparks of Boone, Iowa, sister, Mrs. Charles Stotts, of Danville, Illinois. Burial in Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Iowa.
Elsie Mae Sparks, age 83, daughter of Ed and Myrtle Elliot Sparks, born April 29, 1007, near Lynnville, Iowa; died September 7, 1990, at Grinnell, Iowa. Survived by sisters: Lucille Sparks, Edna Copeland, and Blanche Sparks; and by brothers: Kenneth, Floyd, Lloyd of Lynnville, Ed of Harlan, Iowa, and one brother is deceased. Burial in Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville, Iowa.
Jerry Sparks. Funeral at New Sharon, Iowa; clipping dated July 2, 1917. Veteran of the Civil War, and about eighty years old, died Thursday at his home in New Sharon. Funeral services held Sunday at New Sharon. The deceased was widely respected. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and member of the G.A.R. His wife died a number of years ago. One daughter, Mrs. Maud Newell, north of New Sharon, and one son who lives in the west, survive. Deceased was a relative of the Ewart family of Ewart, Grinnell, and Oskaloosa, Iowa.
John R. Sparks. Clipping date September 1, 1886. The long expected death of John R. Sparks, the pioneer settler of Jasper County, Iowa, occurred August 17, 1886, at his home near Lynnville, Iowa. He was born March 16, 1806, and moved to this county in 1815 where he resided until his death. In looking over the history of this early settler, we find that he erected the first log cabin in the town of Lynnville, he established the first grist mill at that place, he kept the first post office in this part of the country, the first preaching in the neighborhood took place at his home, and the first school was taught in his kitchen. He was a member of the M.E. Church and was an influential citizen.
Kenneth Asa Sparks, age 88, son of Ed and Myrtle Elliot Sparks, born November 23, 1908, at Lynnville, Iowa; died June 6, 1997, at Newton, Iowa. He was married on June 5, 1941, to Dorothy Davis in Lynnville. Survived by wife; daughters Carolyn Norman of Linwood, Kansas; Marjorie Sparks of Des Moines, Iowa, and Nancy Berk of Overland Park, Kansas; brothers: Floyd, Lloyd of Lynnville; Ed., Jr. of Harlan, Iowa; sisters: Lucille Sparks and Edna Copeland of Lynnville. Preceded in death by son, Keith; brother Millard; sister, Elsie Sparks. Burial in Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville, Iowa.
Laura Eldora Sparks, age 48 years, 11 months, and 4 days, daughter of Jesse and Nancy Michael Head, born January 27, 1868, south of Grinnell, died December 31, 1916, at Grinnell. She married Barton Sparks on February 14, 1886. Nine children, three daughters died young. Survived by husband and daughters: Mrs. George Wisecarver of Grinnell, Iowa, Mrs. Charley Mitchell of Iowa City, Iowa, Mrs. Finley Blande of Des Moines, Iowa; and sons: Jimmie, Merle, and Donald Sparks of Grinnell. Burial Blue Point Cemetery.
Lottie Sparks, age 88; daughter of Andrew J. and Mary Belle Brechtbill Stanford; born August 23, 1901, near Gilman, Iowa; died in April 1990 at Toledo, Iowa. She was married in September 1922 to Lester Sparks of Marshalltown. They lived in Marshall, Tama, and Jasper Counties, then moved to West Allis, Wisconsin. Her husband died in 1952, and in 1980 she moved to Toledo, Iowa. No immediate survivors.
Merle V. Sparks, age 85; daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Keener; born November 3, 1904, at Wapello, Iowa, died March 15, 1990, at Grinnell, Iowa. She was married on February 14, 1928, to Dwight A. Sparks of Marshalltown, Iowa; moved to Lynnville, Iowa, in 1933. Children: Frances Thomas of Fresno, California, Marilyn Burnham of Grinnell, Iowa, and Roger Sparks of Manassas, Virginia. Burial Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville, Iowa.
Olive Duffus Sparks, age 83, daughter of Margaret and Alexander Duffus; born January 25, 1879, near Malcom, Iowa; died July 10, 1962, at Des Moines, Iowa. She was married in 1905 to Harry Sparks; he died in 1912. One son, DelMarch Sparks of Des Moines, Iowa. Burial Masonic - IOOF Cemetery, Montezuma, Iowa.
Perry Sparks, age 63. He died January 7, 1937, at Lynnville, Iowa. Burial Lynnville Cemetery.