Marie Sparks
Marie Sparks
Marie Sparks
July 30, 1933 – November 12, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 89
Marie Sparks, age 89, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was born on July 30, 1933, in Deep River, Iowa, the daughter of Cleo A. and A. Louise (Bracy) Yeo.
Marie attended Montezuma High School.
On April 18, 1953, she was united in marriage to Russell Sparks. Together they shared 69 years of marriage until Russell passed away on June 28, 2022.
Marie worked for the Oskaloosa Telephone Company. Marie loved her kids and husband and taking care of her family, children, husband, grandchildren, and she worked hard to make it a loving home and put everyone before herself.
Marie was a grandma extraordinaire, spending lots of time with her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many special memories were made and it was always great fun at grandma’s house. Marie remembered each and every family member’s birthday, sending cards and a little birthday cash.
Marie volunteered at the Oskaloosa Nazarene Church in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Caravan program, church dinners, wedding receptions, and lots of funeral dinners.
She was a master seamstress, sewing her family’s clothes and everything she could dream up
for her and her family’s homes. She also sewed gifts, doll clothes, and could mend or alter
anything. She was also a talented quilter and crocheter as well.
Marie was a fantastic baker and cook and the family always looked forward to her awesome mashed potatoes and turkey dressing stuffing recipe as well as baked goods to give to family, friends and neighbors, more
specifically, her date nut bread!
Marie enjoyed decorating and crafting, ceramics and was a master painter. Marie loved flowers, from her beautiful roses and flowers she grew in her yard and deck to her sunflower themed kitchen. Marie loved spiced gumdrops and chocolate. She was a master ridiculous day shopper and a fast energetic walker, always looking forward to her daily walks with her beloved sister, Lucille.
Her family includes her children, Loretta (& Geron) Knox of Olathe, Kansas, and Tim (& Pam)
Sparks of Oskaloosa; 8 grandchildren: Holly (& Justin) Koons, Heidi (& Terry) Holmes, Hilary (& Bryan)
Holmes, Lindsey Knox, Brendon Knox, Heather (& Ben) Doak, Amanda (& Tim) Drost and Breanna (& Eric) Brummer; 24 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Lucille Poe and Mary Garrett.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell Sparks; a daughter, Leslie
Arnold; a granddaughter, Breanna Brummer; and four brothers, Clyde Yeo, Richard Yeo, Donnie
Yeo, and Clarence Yeo.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Bates
Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dan Arnold officiating.
Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 19, beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with family present to greet relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to Gateway Church of the Nazarene.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Marie Sparks please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
