This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: AMHhenley Surnames: Spark, Griffiths, Gregersen Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.idaho.counties.franklin/2348/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Standard-Examiner, 06/25/08 With tender sadness we announce the passing of William L. Sparks, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He returned home to his Heavenly Father on the beautiful summer morning of Monday, June 23, 2008, as he was surrounded by his loving wife and family in the comfort and peace of his earthly home. He waged a valiant and courageous battle with many serious health issues over the past several years. Bill was born on June 15, 1927, in Clarkston, Utah to John and Annie Griffiths Sparks, the third child of eight, with five brothers and two sisters. He was raised and educated in Rupert, Idaho until he was 17 and his family moved to Banida, Idaho, where he graduated from Preston High School and went on to learn the trade of auto-mechanics. On September 11, 1950, Bill married his sweetheart and love of his life, Maxine Gregersen in the Logan LDS Temple. For several years they lived in Banida in a house Bill built for his new bride and family. They then moved to Brigham City, UT, where they have lived for the past 47 years. Bill was a loving and devoted father to 5 children; Brad Sparks (Ogden, UT), Lexine and the late John Hadfield (Cucamonga, CA), Jeri Wallace (Farr West, UT), Kelly and Gayleen Sparks (Idaho Falls, ID), and Karen and Mark Cronin (Perry, UT). He also loved and had a lot of fun with his 17 grandchildren (Stacy, Lindsi, Kiley Jo, Becky, John, Jim, Kim, Cory, Tim, Brian, Stephanie, Jocelyn, Kaysha, Dallin, Ryan, Katie, and Spencer) and 19 great-grandchildren. Bill was active in the LDS church, serving as scoutmaster, in several bishoprics including as bishop of the 19th Ward, high councilor, as an officiator in the Ogden Temple, and served missions to Corpus Christi, Texas, and to the Nauvoo Illinois Temple with his wife Maxine. Bill has a firm testimony of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Always a motivated and hard worker, Bill made his livelihood as an auto mechanic, vocational teacher at Intermountain Indian School where he truly loved teaching the Indian students, and he worked as a test technician at Thiokol until his retirement. Bill loved to visit with friends and family and to travel with his wife and family to see the beauties of the world. He had traveled to 38 states and 10 countries, and was working towards getting strong enough to travel to Alaska. He also loved to build things and always had a project he was working on, keeping his wife, children, and grandchildren running to try to keep up to him. He liked to waterski, work with the horse posse in Search and Rescue in Franklin County, and have ice creams on a stick with his grandchildren. Bill loved to be with his family and have fun. Last year a big celebration was attended by all of his posterity and many friends in honor of his 80th birthday. He had an endearing sense of humor and was quick to make friends. He was kind, compassionate, honest, hardworking, fun-loving, known as one who could fix anything, and dedicated to his wife, family, and helping others. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Loren and J Vere, one sister, Anna Lou, his in-laws, Fred and Frieda Gregersen, and a son-in-law, John Hadfield. He was survived by three brothers, David (Flourice), Farrell (Hilda), Mervyn (Dianne), one sister, Carol, and his wife and children. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 28, at 12 noon, at the Box Elder South Stake Center located at 865 South 300 West in Brigham City, Utah. Friends may call Friday, June 27, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Myers Mortuary located at 205 South 100 East in Brigham City, Utah, and at the church on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:40 a.m. Interment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery. The family expresses their gratitude to the medical professionals who have so tenderly cared for Bill, and for friends and family who enriched Bill's life, and bless their own lives as they continue on. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the LDS Humanitarian or Missionary Fund in memory of William L. Sparks. (Contributions can be sent to LDS Humanitarian or Missionary Fund, 50 East North Temple, SLC, UT 84150 or given to a family member who will forward them.) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.