Nola German

Nola (Sparks) German of State Center passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Nola Elizabeth Sparks was born on October 18, 1931, at the family home near Clemons. She was the eighth of ten children born to Floyd and Louise Sparks. She started school at Liberty Consolidated School, but moved to St. Anthony, and finished school there in 1949.

On December 3, 1950, Nola was united in marriage with LaVern German. They lived all their lives in the West Marshall area.

Nola worked various jobs in the area, including Goodman Milling, the bakery, and Dairy Sweet, but mostly stayed home with her family. She enjoyed quilting and baking buns and cinnamon rolls, until rheumatoid arthritis took her strength. At Christmas, she enjoyed making candy and gave many plates away to family and friends over the years. Nola was known for her pies, and she loved sharing them with others. What Nola enjoyed most was spending time with family. Sparks family dinners, playing cards with her siblings (or any family), attending her grandkids’ activities and having her great grandkids visit were the times she treasured.

In death, Nola is reunited with her husband, LaVern; parents: Floyd and Louise; brothers: Jim, Floyd, Roger, Donald, Russell, and John; sister: Maxine; many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; nieces: Barb Allen and Joan Ferneau; and nephews: Billy Clemons and Kevin German.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children: Bob (Pam) German of Dallas Center, Tim (Marcy) German of Council Bluffs, and Connie German of State Center; four grandchildren: Christina (Rob) Buettel of Bend, Oregon, Scott (Erin) German of Ankeny, Cody (Brooke) German of State Center, and Alex (Briann) German of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren: Jack, Logan and Josie Bearden, and Cole, Sawyer, Grayson, Landry, Huntley, and Kenley German; two sisters: Virginia Clemons and Joanne Benner; sister-in-law, Terry Sparks; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in State Center. Nola will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery in State Center. Memorials may be directed to State Center Fire & EMS, the West Marshall Scholarship Foundation, or Trinity Lutheran Church.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted to care for Nola and her family. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

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