Don Sparks, who went to school at Martin in his youth, died Monday, Nov. 16, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

He was born March 4, 1937, in McGuffey, Ohio, the son of George and Virginia (Sturgell) Sparks. After school he worked in the fields with his family and then worked at Rockwell International, then at Otsego Public Schools until his retirement in 1999.

Don loved to play cards and enjoyed traveling, taking bus trips to the casino, bowling, golfing and watching westerns. On March 31, 1956, at the Otsego United Methodist Church he married Sandra (Knight) who died in 1994.

Surviving are his children, Greg (Gail Badalamente) Sparks, Don (Diane) Sparks, Kevin (Kathy) Sparks, Brian (Kim) Sparks and Lori Sparks; daughter-in-law, LouAnn Sparks; 20 grandchildren, Andrea (Joe) Brinkhuis, Lee (Erin) Sparks, Lindsey (AJ) Meyers, Brandon (Elyse) Sparks, Dennis (Chrissy) Vyletel, Ben (Faith) Forcier, Brady (Heather) Forcier, Tucker (Rachel) Konecny, Jackie Sparks, Faith Sparks, Ka’lee Sparks, Trevor Sparks, Randi Morrison, Autumn Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Dakota Morrison, Joseph Morrison, Indiana Morrison, Joshua Morrison, and Michael Morrison; 7 great-grandchildren; sister, Lorene Marshall along with several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter, Terri Konecny and siblings, Roger and Jack Sparks and Alberta Marshall.

A private family funeral will be held and burial will take place at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego.

Contributions in memory of Don may be made to the American Cancer Society