A loyal American who loved serving his country Larry Dean Sprague, son of the late T.C. and Lois (Miranda) Sprague, was born on March 7, 1938, in Buffalo, Iowa, and departed this life on Oct. 5, 2007, in the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis following a short illness. He was 69 years, 6 months and 28 days of age.
Larry grew up and attended school in Buffalo, Iowa and joined the United States Navy in 1955. Later, he served in the United States Air Force and retired as a master sergeant in 1977. He was united in marriage to Emogene Dobbs on April 11, 1960, in Iowa City, Iowa. Three sons were born to this union. They made their home in the Ozarks where they raised their family on a farm in Drury, Mo .
Larry was an avid outdoorsman, especially when hunting, fishing and camping. He enjoyed spending time with his family friends and his dog and companion, Buddy. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He was also a loyal American who loved serving his country.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Bill Adams.
Larry is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Emogene Sprague, of their home; his sons, Thomas Sprague and his wife, Janice, of Drury, Jack Sprague and his fiance, Elizabeth, of Norwood, and Larry Sprague and his fiance, Samy, of Ava; one brother, Thomas Sprague and his wife, Pat, of Ava; three sisters, Mary Jo Connell and her husband, Gene, of Moline, Ill., Donna VanderVeer and her husband, Jack, of Seymour, Iowa, and Judy Anderson, of Mtn. Grove; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Graveside services for Larry Sprague were held Monday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m., in the New Hope Cemetery with the Rev. Reg Kelly officiating. Full military honors were given at the cemetery by American Legion Post 30 with Jared Moore as bugler. Burial was in New Hope Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mtn. Grove.
