Fred Guy Sprang Jr.
20 April 1920 ~ 11 November 2014
***
Fred G. Sprang Jr.
Fred Guy Sprang Jr., 94, of Baxter Springs, Kan., passed from this life on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at Galena Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Fred was born on April 20, 1920, in Hardin County, Ohio, to the union of Fred Guy Sr. and Amy (Holmes) Sprang.
Fred graduated from Kenton High School, and then attended Ohio Northern University, receiving a Bachelor's of Science Chemistry.
He went to work as a chemist for Hercules Powder Compnay, in New Jersey, and later transferred to DeSota, Kan.
There he met his future wife Lucienne (Ogg). They were married on March 3, 1944, in Ottawa, Kan., and resided in Lawrence, Kan. While in Lawrence their daughter Gwenda was born.
After World War II, Fred taught chemistry and physics, in Kinsley, Kan., for two years. During this time their son, Fred Sprang III, was born.
In 1947 they moved to Baxter Springs, where Fred worked for Spencer Chemical Company. After retirement he began a photography business.
Fred was a 60 year member of the Baxter Springs Lions Club, serving as president and district governor. He also served on the district sight counsel. He was a 67 year member of the First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many years and helped out in the church as he was needed. He was instrumental in starting the Babe Ruth baseball league and helped in the beginning of the historical society for the Baxter Springs Museum. Fred's older brother, Austin, wrote that he was the clown of the Sprang family. Family members often commented that he always had a smile on his face.
Fred is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lucienne Sprang, of the home; one son, Fred Sprang III and wife, Christine, of Pryor, Okla.; four grandchildren, Denise Brill and husband, Brian, of Tahlequah, Okla., Marc Szwankowski and companion, Sarah St. Onge, of Northglenn, Colo., Troy Sprang and wife, Stephanie, of Pryor, Okla., and Kelly Szwankowski, of Las Vegas, Nev.; five great-grandchildren, Madison and Jackson Szwankowski, Taylor and Tessa Sprang, and Serena Brill; one sister, Grace Brueshaber and husband, Robert, of Belle Fountaine, Ohio; along with many nieces and nephews.
Fred is preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Gwenda Szwankowski; son-in-law, Dennis Szwankowski; two sisters, Rilla , and Emily; and three brothers, Irvin, Carl, and Austin.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 14, at the First United Methodist Church, in Baxter Springs, Kan. Pastor Wayne Handle will officiate.
Family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Friday morning at the church.
Burial will follow in the Highland Cemetery, in Ottawa.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Ohio Northern University.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com
Joplin Globe, The (MO)
Friday, November 14, 2014 - 12:00 am
~*~
Fred Guy Sprang Jr.
20 April 1920 ~ 11 November 2014
***
Fred G. Sprang Jr.
Fred Guy Sprang Jr., 94, of Baxter Springs, Kan., passed from this life on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at Galena Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Fred was born on April 20, 1920, in Hardin County, Ohio, to the union of Fred Guy Sr. and Amy (Holmes) Sprang.
Fred graduated from Kenton High School, and then attended Ohio Northern University, receiving a Bachelor's of Science Chemistry.
He went to work as a chemist for Hercules Powder Compnay, in New Jersey, and later transferred to DeSota, Kan.
There he met his future wife Lucienne (Ogg). They were married on March 3, 1944, in Ottawa, Kan., and resided in Lawrence, Kan. While in Lawrence their daughter Gwenda was born.
After World War II, Fred taught chemistry and physics, in Kinsley, Kan., for two years. During this time their son, Fred Sprang III, was born.
In 1947 they moved to Baxter Springs, where Fred worked for Spencer Chemical Company. After retirement he began a photography business.
Fred was a 60 year member of the Baxter Springs Lions Club, serving as president and district governor. He also served on the district sight counsel. He was a 67 year member of the First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for many years and helped out in the church as he was needed. He was instrumental in starting the Babe Ruth baseball league and helped in the beginning of the historical society for the Baxter Springs Museum. Fred's older brother, Austin, wrote that he was the clown of the Sprang family. Family members often commented that he always had a smile on his face.
Fred is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lucienne Sprang, of the home; one son, Fred Sprang III and wife, Christine, of Pryor, Okla.; four grandchildren, Denise Brill and husband, Brian, of Tahlequah, Okla., Marc Szwankowski and companion, Sarah St. Onge, of Northglenn, Colo., Troy Sprang and wife, Stephanie, of Pryor, Okla., and Kelly Szwankowski, of Las Vegas, Nev.; five great-grandchildren, Madison and Jackson Szwankowski, Taylor and Tessa Sprang, and Serena Brill; one sister, Grace Brueshaber and husband, Robert, of Belle Fountaine, Ohio; along with many nieces and nephews.
Fred is preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Gwenda Szwankowski; son-in-law, Dennis Szwankowski; two sisters, Rilla , and Emily; and three brothers, Irvin, Carl, and Austin.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 14, at the First United Methodist Church, in Baxter Springs, Kan. Pastor Wayne Handle will officiate.
Family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Friday morning at the church.
Burial will follow in the Highland Cemetery, in Ottawa.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Ohio Northern University.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com
Joplin Globe, The (MO)
Friday, November 14, 2014 - 12:00 am
~*~
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