Patsy (Pat) L. Sparkia

Pat was born in Lansing, Michigan on October 18, 1945 and grew up among her 7 brothers and sisters in Williamston, Michigan. Pat was an avid reader, completing books within a couple of days, which required weekly walks to the library to replenish the stacks she kept next to her bed or chair. She enjoyed music, often closing her eyes while letting the melody or words wash over her. You would often hear her singing around the house while doing chores and loved to sing in her church choir and as a soloist on Sunday mornings.

In 1963, Pat worked at Knapp’s Department Store in downtown Lansing, where she wrapped gifts for customers; a talent of which she would use throughout her life, often causing people to debate whether to open one of her gifts, or simply admire the beauty in which it was wrapped. It was while working at Knapp’s that Pat met her future husband Kent, who worked on the store’s shipping and receiving docks. In 1965 they were married; a union and partnership that would last 54 years, produce 3 sons, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Pat is a devout Christian, instilling a love for Christ and His messages of salvation, being loving and accepting of everyone, and treating others as you would be treated, to her boys. There was not a day while growing up that her children didn’t witness her reading her bible and praying, oftentimes accidentally thinking they interrupted her, but knowing her eyes would always remain closed as she spoke to God, whom always held her attention. Another lesson she exemplified to her sons, of prioritizing your faith.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents Evert and Ruth (McClurkin) Wickham, and her siblings Jim, George, June, and Stanley. She is survived by her husband and best friend, Kent Sparkia, her sisters Maryellen and May, her brother Richard, her sons, Scott (Jane), Michael (Lori), and Jason, as well as 8 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As Alzheimer’s took Pat from her family years before her soul left this world, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, to please send donations to either the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or the church of your choice.

A visitation and graveside service, within the scope of our current social distancing restrictions, will be held on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 900 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan 48912, with the graveside service being held at Evergreen Cemetery, 1709 E. Mt. Hope Avenue, Lansing, MI 48910, immediately thereafter.

As we, her family, struggle with our loss and our inability to properly memorialize and celebrate her life right now, we take solace in the fact that she is at peace, her mind intact, her body healed, and the love for us she always held in her heart once again expressive, as she gets to celebrate Easter with her King.