Dorothy Jean Sparke passed away Monday, November 27, 2023. A funeral service will be held Monday, December 4 at 11AM at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home with visitation held an hour prior. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery following the service. Pastor Don Malinsky will be officiating.

Dorothy Jean Sparke

Dorothy was born January 22, 1937 to Albert and Ardella Rasmuson in Glenwood, MN. She attended and graduated from school in Brooten, MN along with her brother Larry.

On January 4, 1958 Dorothy was united in marriage to Carl Sparke in Duluth. They lived in Virginia, Duluth, and then Faribault before finally moving to Albert Lea. Together they worked as the owners/operators of the Countryside Inn Motel until they retired in 1990.

She enjoyed playing cards, shopping, and crafts. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was an avid and accomplished bowler and was a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

She is survived by her son Paul Sparke, daughters Janine Schuhmacher (Randy) and Terri Wichmann (Warren), sister-in-law Georgia Brenden, nephew Michael Brenden (Chanel), grandchildren Zach Wichmann, Cody Wichmann (Danielle Hunter), Holly Wichmann, Angie Wuerflein (Brett), and Amy Klimmek, great grandchildren Jozie Klimmek, Blake Klimmek, Jackson Wuerflein, and Kylee Wuerflein, great niece Annabelle Brenden and her dear friend Lloyd Thomas.

She is preceded in death by her husband Carl Sparke, her parents Albert and Ardella, and her brother Larry Brenden.

Special thanks goes out to the staff at St. John’s Lutheran Community and to the nurses of Mayo Hospice.