Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sparks, Stephen Albertus  January 17, 2016
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net July 2, 2020, 7:21 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Tues. Jan. 26, 2016

STEPHEN ALBERTUS SPARKS
Stephen Albertus Sparks, 95, passed away on Jan. 17, 2016, at Fountain View 
Assisted Living facility located in Lowell. A lifelong resident of Saranac, 
Michigan, he lived most of his life on the family farm, which dates back to 
1841. Stephen was born on Sept. 22, 1920, in the family farm house. He is a 
direct descendant of Stephen Sparks, a pioneer from New York, who settled on a 
tract of land purchased from the government for $1.25 per acre in Section 15, 
which later became Keene Township of Ionia county. Through a partnership, he and 
his sons James and Michael continue to farm that same land as part of Sparks 
Centennial farm.

During Steve's younger years, he enjoyed hunting, card playing, dancing, and 
carpentry. He was a lifetime member of the Belding Veterans of Foreign Wars, a 
member of the Saranac American legion and a founding member of the former 
Saranac Chapter of the Veterans of foreign Wars.

While he was in the service during World war II, Steve married the love of his 
life Ila Dickson, on June 17, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Jefferson 
Army Air Force Barracks Chapel. During their 73 years of marriage, they raised 
six children; James of Saranac, Marquis (Mary Jo) Of Belding, Dan of Lowell, 
Sonya (Ed) Dworak of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Michael (Barbara) of Saranac, and 
Sylvia Timmerman of Grand Rapids. He is also survived by his grandchildren; 
Carrie Bunting, Leslie (Anthony) Spera, Brian Sparks, Dan (Candice) Sparks, Amy 
Sparks, Angie (Chris) Cowell, Brayton Sparks, Megann Timmerman, Courtney 
Timmerman, and his great-grandchildren; Allison (David) Emig, Michael Bunting, 
Mya Blanchi, Kya Sparks, Madison Sparks and Cooper Sparks. Many Nieces and 
Nephews survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Wilma Sparks; brother Alden 
and sister, Evelyn Geiger.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 11 AM at the Saranac Community 
church with Pastor Becky Poor officiating. Visitation on Friday, Jan. 29, from 2 
to 5 PM at the Lake Funeral Home in Saranac, Michigan. Internment at Belding 
Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com

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