Name: Ella Sparks Date: April 8th, 1917 - May 2nd, 2009 Obituary: Ella A. Sparks, age 92, of Crandon, went to sleep at home and woke up in heaven on May 2, 2009. She was born April 8, 1917 in Nelma, Wisconsin the daughter of the late Arbarry and Adeline (Spencer) Brooks. Ella graduated from Elvoy High School (Nelma) in 1935. In the fall of 1935 she went to the LeClaire School of Beauty in Milwaukee to become a hairdresser. After school in 1936 she went to Evanston, IL with her sister, Etta and worked for Dr. and Mrs. Brown until 1937. Ella took a vacation to Florida and came back to Crandon to work for Velma Sparks. On December 8, 1938 she married Vic Sparks at the Sparks Apartments which was over the Sparks Food Mart; he preceded her in death on July 19, 1975. Ella and Vic took over the store at Argonne and built an apartment behind the store for living quarters. She was a “jack of all trades” at the store. Ella ground many hundred pound bags of feed, was a butcher, stocker, checker, cleaning lady, banker and a homemaker. They took over Sparks Department Store in Crandon in about 1956; Ella pierced many girls’ ears while at the store. After Vic’s death, Ella ran the store by herself until 1977; when she sold the store to Harold and Lois Wickham. She figured on retiring, but it just proved to be the opposite. Ella was very active in starting the Crandon Area Rescue Squad and became more involved after the sale of the store. She was a dispatcher for the rescue squad for 25 years. Ella was involved in the Crandon Fire Dept. Auxiliary, American Cancer Society, assisted with the Hot Line Program for the elderly, board member for North Central Area Health Planning, many offices in the church, organized the Crandon Unit of the Bloodmobile, helped at the Brush Run as well as the Bluegrass in Mole Lake and also delivered Meals on Wheels for the shut-ins and visited the Nursing Home. Besides doing all of these things in her spare time she enjoyed golfing, daily walks, participating in the Crandon Lions fishoree, associate member of Crandon Area Chamber of Commerce (noted for her homemade soup for Art in the Square) and a member of the Sno Mads; which she joined in the “Morning CoffeeClutch” at the Crandon Hotel each morning. Ella was a longtime bowler who sponsored and bowled on the Sparks Musketeers for 59 years. Ella also kept the flowers on Main Street alive all summer by loading 18 gallons of water into the trunk of her car to water them. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by: Daughters: Susie (Jim) Jameson, Crandon Peggy Williams, Crandon Sons: Jim Sparks, Crandon Larry (Sheila) Sparks, Florida 3 very special nieces and nephew: Nancy Leiner, Laurel (Jim) Goller and Mick (Karen) Worthington. Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren Preceded in death by her parents, husband; Vic, sisters; Etta, Nelma and Ruth, and brothers; Juan and Garland. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 5 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, Crandon. Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Marvin Singh officiating. Interment will be in the Crandon Lakeside Cemetery. Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences at www.weberhillfuneralhome.com. Memorials: Memorials appreciated to the Crandon Area Rescue Squad Visitations: 11:00AM to 1:00PM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church (map/driving directions) Services: In-state at 11:00AM, Service at 1:00PM at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Crandon Lakeside Cemetery Crandon, WI 54520 (map/driving directions)