Cover photo for Arlene R. Sparks's Obituary
Arlene R. Sparks Profile Photo
1935 Arlene R. Sparks 2024

Arlene R. Sparks

June 10, 1935 — June 12, 2024

Coal Valley, Illinois

Arlene R. Sparks, 89, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Florida.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 28, at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Burial is in Coal Valley Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The former Arlene Ruth Krouse was born June 10, 1935, in Melcher, Iowa, the daughter of Arie and Alice (Geddling) Krouse. She married the love of her life, Russell Edward Sparks, on October 20, 1953, in Milan, Illinois. He died May 4, 2023.

She worked for John Deere Plow & Planter prior to starting a family. Later on, she went back to school to earn her beautician’s license and subsequently owned and operated her own beauty salon in Coal Valley. She also drove a school bus for some time and worked at the liquor store in Coal Valley.

She enjoyed golfing, and was a member of Tara Golf and Country Club in Bradenton. She was also a homemaker deluxe, excelling at cooking and sewing, and was an excellent wife and mother. In her younger years, she was a den mother for her sons’ Cub Scouts groups. 

Arlene is survived by two children, Ronald (Monica) Sparks of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Vicki LaRosa of Middletown, New York; four grandchildren, Eric Sparks of Bettendorf, Toby LaRosa of Connecticut, Ariel (Christian) Dunnigan of New York, and Emma LaRosa of New York; and two great-grandchildren, Kinsley and Owen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; her son, Gary L. Sparks; and three siblings, Marvin and Wayne Krouse, and Maxine DeMoulin.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arlene R. Sparks, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, June 28, 2024

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory - Coal Valley

1700 1st St, Coal Valley, IL 61240

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, June 28, 2024

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory - Coal Valley

1700 1st St, Coal Valley, IL 61240

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Graveside Service

Friday, June 28, 2024

Starts at 12:00 pm (Central time)

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