Ed Sparks, Jr.
August 01, 2010
Ed Sparks, Jr. of Des Moines died August 1, 2010 in the Legacy nursing home. Services will be held at Meredith Drive Reformed Church, 5128 Meredith Dr., Des Moines, IA on Thursday, August 5, 2010. A luncheon for family and friends will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., visitation at 12:30 and the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Sully Cemetery.
Ed was born on March 18, 1924 in Lynnville, Iowa to Eddie Elmer and Myrtle Ellen (Elliot) Sparks. He graduated from Lynnville High School in 1941. On July 4, 1949 he was united in marriage to Wilma Moes Jansen in Nashua, Iowa. Wilma died on April 30, 2006.
He worked for the Sully Telephone Company, and then for United Telephone in Newton and Harlan where he retired as a manager after 20 years of service. Ed was also a member of the Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines.
Those left to honor Ed’s memory are his daughters, Donna (Joe) Bruinsma of Sioux Center and Rosemary Beede of Des Moines; son, Edmund (Lydia) of San Antonio, TX; six grandchildren, Dan (Sharon) Bruinsma, Jacki (Marv) Maassen, Jason (Jess) Bruinsma, Michael Beede, Nicole (Chad) English and Chris Gonzales; ten great-grandchildren; sister, Edna Copeland of Sigorney, IA; brother, Lloyd (Alice) Sparks of Lynnville; three sisters-in-law, Irene Moes of Sully, Evelyn Moes of Altoona, Velma Sparks of Montezuma; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his wife; parents; sisters, Elsie and Lucile Sparks; brothers, Millard (Blanche), Ken and Floyd Sparks.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Iowa Hospice, 5650 NW Johnston Drive, Suite E, Johnston, IA 50131 or to Meredith Drive Reformed Church. Online condolences may be made at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.
Louie & Carmen Calloway
08/05/2010
To the Sparks Family,
Our condolences in this critical time for a loved one that I'm sure will be truly missed. May he rest in peace. We send our love and our prayers.
Michelle Platt
08/04/2010
Warm wishes for many pleasant and happy memories as all of you move through this sad time. My thoughts are with you.
Charlene Catlett & Joyce Slycord
08/04/2010
When I was in my early 20, I met the most wonderful couple I have ever none!
Wilma and Ed Sparks are like parents to me. We not only work together at Skiff, we remained friends for over 40 years. After they moved to Harlan, we kept in touch. I visited them in their apartment and when they moved to the little house. The garage they build seemed bigger than their house. Wilma made the best cookies out of her Kitchen Klatter recipe book. Every year at tax time, they would come to Newton and always stopped my to see me. They even showed me Albert the Bull.
Wilma, Margaret Bailey and I would go out for coffee and one of the last road trips was to the Coffee Cup. She showed us all around Lynnville and Sully to where Ed and her had lived. I remember the "Bears Face on the tree at the cemetery That was the best day.
In 2003, I visited them and loved their apartment. That is how I came to live here and I enjoyed being close to them. They helped with my garage sale, and brought up their tables. Ed chased my recyable bin out in the corn field several times. I felt so safe with them living close by. One winter he fixed my mail box 2-3 times. Memories are wonderful and I have alot of them! My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Donna, Rosemary and Edmond and your families. God Bless you all! Keep in touch, Char.
Ed give Wilma my love until we meet again. Love you both!
Mr & Mrs Wolfgang Dewitz
08/04/2010
We extend our Deepest Sympathy to the Family of Ed Sparks, Jr.
The Dewitz Family-San Antonio, TX