Brenda Sparks, 65, of New Sharon, passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 26, 2024, at home in New Sharon. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, at New Life Fellowship in New Sharon. Burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PROS, Pay it Forward, or New Sharon Food Pantry.
Brenda Lou Sparks, daughter of Leon and Mary (Coffey) Mitchell, was born Mar. 5, 1959, in Oskaloosa. She graduated with the Class of 1977 from North Mahaska High School where she enjoyed playing basketball and softball and taught swimming lessons. Brenda attended beauty school in Marshalltown and did hair for a few years in Oskaloosa.
She was married to Steven Daniels in 1983. To this union two sons were born, Jamie and Jared. Brenda was a homemaker for a short time taking care of her family and raising their kids before going to work for Rolscreen in Pella for 15 years. Feb. 25, 1995, Brenda was united in marriage to Charlie Sparks at New Sharon United Methodist Church where she gained a daughter, Charlie Ann. Brenda also cleaned houses with her mom along with doing a few odd jobs before going to work at Montezuma Manufacturing. Following her CNA training at Pella Regional Hospital, Brenda did in-home health care for several years eventually retiring from Vermeer Manufacturing in March 2024 after 10 years.
Brenda had a great sense of humor along with a great memory and would light up the room when she walked in. She loved giving Smoocher Popper, decorating for Halloween with “Bigger the Better,” having coffee time and daily devotions on her front porch, the color purple, Minnesota Vikings, and getting her nails done for the occasion or the color purple. She loved keeping up with family history and above all spending time with her family especially supporting her grandchildren’s sporting events, church activities, and anything else they were involved in. Brenda attended New Life Fellowship Church in New Sharon where she was very active with PROS, and most recently, she attended the Heart of Worship in Lynnville where she was involved with the lady’s group, The Elephant Sisters.
Brenda’s legacy will be cherished by her husband Charlie Sparks of New Sharon; her children Jamie (Caitlin) Daniels of Montezuma, Charlie Ann (Curtis) Bundy of New Sharon, and Jared (Ashley) Daniels of Sully; her grandchildren Larry, Alybeth, Leo, Codie, Jonas, Jacob, Garrett, Jeremiah, Annabelle, Adara, Lauren, Landon, Peyton, Rylan, and Haisley; her brother Tom (Peggy) Mitchell of Gainesville, FL; a sister-in-law Barb Mitchell of Pella; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Leon and Mary Mitchell, brother Mike Mitchell, nephew Travis Mitchell, and parents-in-law Jerry and Norma Sparks.
