June 20, 1975 - June 27, 2025
Andrew Gordon Sparkman passed away on June 27, 2025, just one week after a joyous celebration of his 50th birthday. Andrew was born in Victoria, Texas, on June 20, 1975, to Robert T. “Sparky” Sparkman, Jr., and Barbara Powell Sparkman. Andy spent his first three months on this earth fighting for his life in an incubator in Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Through the love of his devoted family and the kindness of the nursing staff at Santa Rosa, he miraculously grew strong enough for his parents to bring him home to Victoria. Andy attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic School and St. Joseph High School, where he graduated with the gift of lifelong companionship of his many friends from the Class of 1994 and the odd honor of being voted “Most Pessimistic.” Shortly thereafter, he embarked on a brave new chapter - being the youngest student to ever attend The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in November 1996.
Before sharing his incomparable skills as a professional chef with the world, Andy worked diligently in the family business as the head of the Victoria Well Service division of Sparkman Industries, Inc. In March of 2002, Andy and his family opened Toscana Artisan Bakery & Bistro in Victoria. For the next 13 years, Andy and his culinary mentees delivered some of the best food Victoria has ever had to offer its residents and visitors. He then went on to pursue his other passion of motorcycles when he founded Victoria Iron Works in 2007. Andy would continue to cook for the pleasure of his family, friends, and strangers throughout the rest of his life. Andy returned to the family business in 2021, spending his final months working closely with his father on projects suited solely for their shared intellectual prowess and veritable genius. Of all his accomplishments, the one he was most proud of and derived the most joy from was being a father.
Andy’s kindness, compassion, and listening heart made him a gift to all that were blessed enough to know him. He saw the best in every person he met, sometimes to his detriment and disappointment. Andy had an infectious laugh, a mischievous grin, and a unique sense of humor that could brighten even the worst of one’s days. Andy was truly one of a kind, and he will be deeply missed.
Andrew is preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard Gordon Powell & Dorothy Foster Powell, and Robert T. Sparkman, Sr. & Louise Susan (Chamrad) Sparkman; his brother, Joseph; his aunt, Linda Sparkman; his uncle, Edwin D. Suhr; and his “brother,” Erasmo Garcia. He is survived by his parents and his daughters, Ella Louise Sparkman & Elise Olivia Sparkman; his siblings, Robert T. “Trey” Sparkman III (Ingra) and Emily Sparkman Studer (Brandon); his former wife, Heidi Bowman Sparkman; Avery Elizabeth Southern & Anna Catherine Southern; his nephews Devon, Brendon, Owen, and Lyle; his nieces Abigail and Amelia; his aunts Jan Suhr, Julie Vanderslice (Alan), and Betsy Bixby (David), and his numerous cousins.
A visitation will be held at Rosewood Funeral Chapel in Victoria, Texas, on Sunday, July 6th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The memorial service will be held at the same location on Monday, July 7th, at 10:00 am, with a procession to the graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers in attendance: Trey Sparkman, Brandon Studer, Donald Herrera, Lynn Sparkman, Sr., Brendon Sparkman, and Devon Sharp.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Andrew’s name to St. Joseph High School in Victoria, Texas, or Christus Children’s Foundation (Santa Rosa NICU) in San Antonio, Texas.
