Earl E. Sparks

Earl E. Sparks, 68, of Millbury, died Tuesday afternoon, March 8, 2016, at his home. He was born June 26, 1947, in Wheelersburg, Ohio, to Chester and Virgie (Carroll) Sparks. On February 14, 1998, in Williston, Ohio, he married Rebecca Luebke and she survives. Earl was definitely an outdoorsman. He was an avid hunter, seeking upland birds; he was a member of the Oak Harbor Conservation Club and particularly enjoyed the youth activities, especially the fishing derby with his kids and grandkids. Earl operated a hunting marsh and had raised and trained many dogs for coon and upland bird hunting. Earl retired in 2010 as a loader operator from Stoneco/Shelley Corp. in Lime City. He thoroughly enjoyed retirement and his leisure time. He was always talking about past hunts with friends but then planning the next. Earl had been a past member of the Rocky Ridge Fire Dept. He had volunteered at the Luther Home of Mercy with the Spirits Free Choir and horseback riding at Old Flame Ranch. In addition to his wife, Becky, Earl is survived by his sons, Jason Sparks and Timothy Whited, daughters, Tracy (Jeremy) Clevenger, Maggie (Mitchell) ONeil and Emily (Patrick) Kertesz; grandchildren, Brittany (Robert) Christiansen, Becca Simpkins, Abby Kertesz, Stella Kertesz, Jack and Jacy Clevenger, and Maxwell ONeil; great granddaughter, Kayla Christiansen; brother, Lester Sparks, and sisters, Sue Mesker, Dorothy Trimmier and Allene Joseph. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Arthur and Otis Sparks and sisters, Bethel Havens, Mary Grosjean and Deborah Brazelton. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, 501 West St., Genoa, Ohio, with a Time of Remembrance to follow at 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will take place in Limestone Cemetery, Graytown, on Monday, April 4, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that memorials for Earl be given to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551; or the Oak Harbor Conservation Club Youth Programs, 975 Gordon Rd., Oak Harbor, OH 43449.