Virginia Sparks

M. Virginia Sparks, 83, of State Center, died peacefully June 2, 2010, at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown.A celebration of Virginias life will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., at Clemons United Church of Christ, with burial to follow at the Clemons Cemetery in Clemons, Iowa. Friends may call at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home on June 4 from 5 to 7 p.m., with her family present at that time. Memorials may be made in her name to the Iowa River Hospice House or Clemons United Church of Christ. Condolences may be left for the family at www.mitchellfh.com Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Virginia and her family.Born on May 21, 1927, in Lenox, Iowa, Virginia was the only child born to Roy and Eva Florence (Matzen) Heaps. She attended country school Lincoln No. 3 and later graduated from Lenox High School in 1945. Virginia worked at the First National Bank in Lenox before going on to graduate from beauty school in Des Moines. She worked at Ellis Beauty Shop in Beaverdale until she was united in marriage to Floyd Sparks of St. Anthony on January 4, 1948, in Des Moines. The couple farmed in the New Providence, Union and St. Anthony areas before retiring to State Center. Virginia attended the Clemons United Church of Christ.Virginia was a cherished daughter, hard working and supportive farm wife, who loved her family and did what she could to help each one.Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Diane (David) Lewis of Marshalltown; her son Douglas (Tami) Sparks of St. Anthony; her grandchildren: Ted (Ashley) Lewis, Trish (Andy) Jacobs, Grant Lewis, Rob (Jamie) Sandvick, Courtney (Matt) Palmer, Dustin Sparks; and great-grandchildren: Drew and Linden Jacobs, Cael and Kate Sandvick, and Parker Willms. Others left to remember Virginia are her Haynes cousins and the Sparks brothers, sisters and their spouses and families.In death she has rejoined her parents, Roy and Florence; and Floyd, her husband of 48 years, who died December 18, 1996