Alice Sparks, 94, of Newton and formerly of Lynnville, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at Accura Healthcare of Newton West. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Lynnville Friends Church. Memorials may be directed to the Lynnville Historical Society.
Alice, the daughter of Harold and Charlotte (Groves) Ratcliff, was born June 4, 1923, in rural Mahaska County. She graduated from Lynnville High School in 1941. She was united in marriage with Lloyd Sparks on Dec. 9, 1941, in Lancaster, MO. Alice was a housewife and farm wife. During the months of January, February, and March, she went to the Lynnville Friends Church to make quilts for Native Americans in Oklahoma. She was there every Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., only leaving for an hour to feed her husband and do the dishes. She always had chocolate chip cookies waiting in her freezer for anyone who would stop by. She also loved having her grandchildren come spend the night. One New Year’s Eve, she had all 14 of them over and still hosted the traditional Ratcliff family dinner on New Year’s Day.
Alice is survived by her six children: Lloydeana (Jim) Stewart of Newton, Larry Sparks (Virginia Meredith) of Lynnville and Newton, Dennis Sparks of Newton, William “Bill” (Lyndia) Sparks of Lynnville, Mary (Emmett) Kadwell of Shelbyville, MI, and Mildred (Rich) Henschel of Kellogg; her 14 grandchildren: Tony (Teri) Stewart of North Carolina, Tammy (Mark) Davis of Minnesota, Brenda (Mick) Denmark of Lynnville, Jason (Shawnee) Sparks of Newton, Troy Wearmouth of Missouri, Gabe Wearmouth of Newton, Kim (Rod) Sieck of Grinnell, Tim (Dee) Sparks of Lynnville, Darron (Beth) Kadwell of Michigan, Keith (Lisa) Kadwell of Michigan, Stephen (Kayla) Kadwell of Maryland, Emily (Nick) Enz of Maryland, Mike (Melissa) Henschel of DeWitt, and Sheri (Greg) Leavens of Colfax; 29 great-grandchildren; seven great-great- grandchildren, with one on the way; her brother, Melvin (Marcile) Ratcliff of Lynnville; brother-in-law, Clair (Karel) Fenner of Grinnell; cousins, Ike, Helen, and Bob; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 69 years, Lloyd; brother, Rayford (Elenora) Ratcliff; sisters: Neva (Earl) Klyn, Velma (Floyd) Sparks, Vera (Gerald) Beason, and Doris Fenner; and daughters-in-law: Judy Sparks, Carol Sparks, Bonnie Sparks, and Irene Janssen.
