Larry Neal Sparks, 73, of Hutchinson, Kansas, and formerly of Granger died April 2, 2024, after a courageous battle with advanced Lewy Body Dementia and health complications at Waldron Place Senior Living in Hutchinson, Kansas.
He was born Dec. 16, 1950, in Standardville, Utah to Andrew and Jackie (Jensen) Sparks.
Larry graduated from Woodward-Granger High School with the Class of 1969 and attended Morningside University in Sioux City.
He made many friends when he worked in Oelwein for Donaldson Co. and Clete and Connie’s lounge. He retired in 2020 from Life Line Emergency Vehicles in Sumner, Iowa, where he helped to custom build ambulances.
Everyone who knew Larry knew he was a was a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan, with optimism for each game even against the odds. He enjoyed attending many Iowa football and basketball games in his younger years, and especially loved traveling to the Iowa Hawkeye football bowl games.
He enjoyed living his last years and supporting his grandchildren by attending many sporting, dance and school events in Hutchinson.
Larry is survived by his son, Brian (Julie) Sparks of Altoona; daughters, Kirsten (Brad) Paulsrud of Hutchinson and Caroline Sparks of Decorah; grandchildren, Anika, Lila and Drew Paulsrud, Megan (Ryan Thompson) Meyer and Adam (Abby) Howie; and great-grandchildren, Macy and Molly Meyer and Avery, Reese and Corbin Howie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Jacketta Sparks.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1 at the Zion Lutheran Church at 402 E. Charles St. in Oelwein, with the Rev. Josh Schunk officiating. A reception will follow at the American Legion Post #9 at 108 First St. S.W. in Oelwein.
Memorials may be sent to the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St., Hutchinson, KS 67501 or online at www.cprf.org.
