Richard Eugene Sprague

Richard Eugene Sprague, 63, died Monday, September 28, 2009 at
Homeward Hospice in Ames. Richard was born on July 29, 1946 to James and Jeanne Sprague in Des Moines.
Richard is survived by his loving wife. Linda; his children, Steven (Susan) Sprague and Diane (Craig) Swope; three grandchildren, Austin Laster, Brandon Laster and Joshua Sprague; mother, Jeanne Sprague; sister, JoAnn Kellar. He was preceded in death by his father, James Sprague.
After high school, Richard attended Auto Mechanic School in Omaha. He then entered the United States Air force and worked as a mechanic on jet bombers. In 1968 he married Linda Petersen and then attended Bailey Tech for diesel mechanic training in St. Louis. This began his thirty-one year profession working with diesel engines, in everything from generators to tug boats, to construction equipment, to tractor trailers.
His hobbies included a card club that has been meeting for over thirty years, traveling the U.S., building his '38 Chevy pickup, and rebuilding various cars for his kids. He was also an active member of the Midwest Tool Collectors Association. He collected antique hand planes and made wood handles for several of them. Woodworking was his greatest talent. He had a love for all the fine features of wood and could build anything from furniture to marble machines. However, his favorite pastime was playing with his three grandsons.
Richard was a devoted husband, a loving father and a mischievous grandfather. He never knew a stranger and had a great ability to see the good in people. Everyone knows he was never at a loss for words.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Israel Hospice home in Ames or the Midwest Tool Collectors Endowment Fund in loving memory of Richard.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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