Larry William Spragle

Larry William Spragle peacefully departed on January 11, 2024, under the compassionate care of the staff of Friendship Village and Cedar Valley Hospice in Waterloo. The family is deeply grateful for the incredible care, kindness, and patience these dear people showed him as he bravely fought Alzheimer's.

He was born in Waterloo, Iowa on November 26, 1938, the son of Dorothy and Pearl (Bud) Spragle. He graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1957. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Waterloo where he met his soulmate, Mary Steidler. They were married on September 22, 1961, and built a loving, service-filled life together.

Larry had a deep Christian faith, loved his family, cherished his many friends (often meeting at Morg's), and enjoyed golf, woodworking, gardening, hunting, fishing, family vacations, and camping. He fearlessly applied knowledge he gained from actual books to tasks like restoring a VW engine, building a grandfather clock, and adding a family room and attached garage to the family home.

He started at University of Northern Iowa but left when his father died to help support the family. He worked briefly at John Deere; served in the National Guard as an aircraft mechanic; and commenced an apprenticeship with Schoitz Engineering in 1964, holding various roles within their tool and die business for 38 years until his eventual retirement.

Larry was an active member of First Lutheran Church and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waterloo and he served where there was need, such as helping with trustees, Sunday School, Bible study/devotion, council, stewardship, choir, driving the church van, free lunch, and coffee preparation. He was tireless in his desire to help, no matter the task.

Larry is survived by two of his three children, Greg Spragle (Jan), of Coralville, Iowa; Daniel Spragle (Susan), of Milton, GA; son-in-law Scott Hartman (Susan), of Council Bluffs, IA; six grandchildren; and one great grandchild. He is also survived by his brother John Spragle (Sharon) of Clear Lake, and sister Linda West (Jim) of Ottumwa. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Spragle; his daughter, Ann Hartman; grandson, Brendan Hartman; his brother Jim Spragle and sister-in-law Judy Spragle, and his parents.

Visitation will be at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 810 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, Iowa on Friday, January 19 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice in Larry's name. Condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralServices.com. Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, is assisting the family. Locke at Tower Park, 319-233-3146.