Obit: Sparks, Gerald (1943 – 2008)
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----Surnames: Sparks, Wortman, Nelson, Kowalchyk, Mauer, Rote, Schmidt

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Thur., 30 Oct. 2008

Sparks, Gerald (19 Dec. 1943 – 29 Oct. 2008)

ARPIN -- Gerald "Jerry" Sparks, 64, of Arpin died Wed., Oct. 29, 2008, in the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Services will be at 11 a.m. Mon., Nov. 3, at the First Presbyterian Church, Arpin. Military honors will be conducted by the Pittsville American Legion Post 153 following the service at the church. Burial will be in the Arpin Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. at the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, Marshfield, and one hour prior to service time Mon. at the church.

He was born Dec. 19, 1943, in Chalmers, Ind., the son of Floyd and Eva (Wortman) Sparks.

Gerald served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966. On Dec. 7, 1964, in Marshfield, Gerald was united in marriage to the former Jean A. Nelson. He was employed as a truck driver for various companies and retired from Veolia in 2007, where he worked as a mechanic.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Sparks, Arpin; children, Brenda (Roger) Kowalchyk, Norcross, Ga., John Sparks, Arpin, and Kimberly (Matthew) Mauer, Auburndale; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Thomas (Diane) Sparks, Marshfield, and Walter Sparks, Monticello, Ind.; and two sisters, Elsie Rote, Belvidere, Ill., and Barbara (Allen) Schmidt, Pittsville, further survive Gerald.