Four shots ripped into my groin, and I was off on the biggest adventure of my life...
But first let me tell you a little about myself.” — Max Shulman, Sleep Til Noon
LELAND LESLIE SPRAGUE, age 91.8 years old, of Ojai, California Physician;
Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Friend; Church-going Keeper of the faith;
Wordsmith, Humorist, Poet, Painter, Voracious Reader; Photographer, Historian, Civil War Expert;
Cyclist, Pilot, Sailor, Adventurer;
Good Listener of people and 78 RPM records; Builder of homes;
Popper of corn, Stirrer of black walnut fudge, and Baker of sourdough;
Ardent Admirer of the 4th of July, bald eagles, robust John Philips Sousa marches, babies, apple pie, the American flag and Abraham Lincoln.
Leland Sprague was a multi-faceted man — impossible to type-cast. His talents and interests were vast and he was many things to many people. Born into humble beginnings, he experienced the American dream by manifesting his own future and building a full and rewarding life unimaginable to the generation that preceded him.
On August 10, 1930, in West Chester, Iowa, Leland Leslie Sprague came into the world. He was the second of four children to Isaac Asa Sprague, a horse & wagon US mail carrier, and Eunice B. Bell, an antiques dealer and hairdresser.
Leland was blessed with rosy, apple cheeks and a sweet smile, a keen perception, love of reading & science, and a yearning to make a difference in the world. His no-nonsense mother, however, sometimes saw otherwise and gave him the occasional reality check by hollering to him: “Leland Leslie Sprague, you’re so lazy you stink!”
Lee was Kermie to his childhood friends and he grew up playing with his older brother, swimming in the local quarry, tending the family chickens, and becoming an expert at hand- cranking home-made ice cream, checking the dasher to ensure the consistency was just exactly right. He also survived scarlet fever in a pre-antibiotic world. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids with membership in the National Honor Society, he earned his B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1952 - the first member of his family to do so. He was accepted into the University of Iowa’s medical school and was evermore proud to be a Hawkeye, graduating with his M.D. in 1956.
While doing an affiliation at the Oakdale Tuberculosis Sanatorium near Iowa City he met, and subsequently married, Rosanne MacKenzie, an occupational therapist from Davenport. His first five children were eventually born to this union: Lee Grant, Susan Deborah, Martha Kathleen, Sarah Jolie and Anne Marie.
The couple moved to Fresno, CA where Leland began his internship, then to Ventura, CA for a two year residency. During the Vietnam War era, he enlisted with the US Public Health Service in Fort Defiance, AZ and became the de facto Chief of Anesthesia Services. After moving briefly to Staten Island, NY for a residency in anesthesia, they returned to the Navajo Nation in Gallup, NM where he became the Chief of Anesthesia at the USPHS. By the end of his 5 years of service he had earned the rank of Commander.
An opportunity to return to the ocean breezes of Ventura, allowed him to become a staff anesthesiologist at the Community Memorial Hospital and the Ventura County Hospital. Leland
was particularly proud of a 5 year stint at County Hospital as the Director of Anesthesia Services, from 1972-1977. Along with Dr. Charles Fletcher, he was instrumental in creating the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between Los Angeles and San Francisco at the time.
After being Chief of Surgery, he became the first anesthesiologist to be named Chief of Staff at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, CA; an honor and challenge for which his family was immensely proud.
His first marriage eventually ended in divorce and he subsequently married Shelley Moore, a registered nurse. Two additional children were born to them: Lincoln Andrew and Nathan Isaac.
Leland loved medicine, both the science of it and the humanity of it. He was a skilled, empathic physician with a warm bedside manner and attuned listening skills. He spent over 50 years suiting up in green scrubs and taking an ungodly amount of emergency calls in the middle of the night. But his practice allowed him to connect with and heal the lives of tens of thousands of individuals. He was widely respected by his colleagues, nursing staffs and patients for his acumen in the operating room and his smart, homespun wit.
After his retirement in 2008, Leland and his family remained active members of the Ojai community and church.
Leland raised two amazing families with two extraordinary women, resulting in seven exceptional offspring and a bevy of beautiful grandchildren. He was a good provider for his families who never had to worry about food or a nice roof over their heads.
He traveled through Europe and much of the USA. Particularly favorite locales were the beaches of Hawaii with a good read, and always Iowa. He shared his love of the Hawkeye State with all of his family and introduced them to the RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). He rode it umpteen times with the Tallyrand Bicycle Club, enjoying the ride, the revelry, and the rolling farmlands which always welcomed him home.
To say he loved American history was an understatement. He could have written an entire encyclopedic set on the Civil War alone. He was also an avid, lifelong photographer and family historian. His interest in genealogy uncovered direct family connections dating back over 400 years.
He was an exemplary writer and storyteller with the gift of a poet. He knew the value of an aptly chosen word and a well-turned phrase; and could do both with equal parts humor and poignancy, such that a memory could be evoked from the reader as if it were their own.
His mental capacity was astounding and he could recite copious long literary passages with ease - particularly those of Lincoln and Shakespeare. He had an insatiable appetite for literature and could carry on a conversation with anyone regarding virtually any text.
He was vociferous with his opinions and didn’t suffer fools - particularly when it came to politics or his daughters’ boyfriends.
He truly believed in the democratic ideal and always hoped for and appreciated the best of America.
“One of the things I’m really going to hate about being dead is I’m not going to be able to read any Abraham Lincoln. I seek solace in the works of one of the very few original human beings of our nation...He had the optimism of a bride, the wisdom of Socrates, the spirit of an Olympic god, the courage of a grizzly bear, the tenacity of a lead sled dog, and the sense of humor of Puck himself...
“If God grants us an afterlife where you get to meet people, I’ll sure want to become reacquainted with my family first and talk over old times, but I’ll sure want to talk to Mr. Lincoln at least for a century or two.” — Leland Sprague
After nearly 92 years, Leland Leslie Sprague, has shuffled “off this mortal coil” and passed into the great republic in the sky. We expect his reception there to be “rich, rich, beyond his wildest dreams” and include a connection, finally, with his dearly departed family and Honest Abe himself.
Leland left this world knowing he was loved; knowing that he had made a difference. He left knowing his legacy would continue through the imprint he made upon his community, his friends and especially his family.
“Life is a miraculous gift. I thank my parents and thank God for my chance.
In the end all we can bequeath to the world is our children; and in that sense I leave the world a fortune.
Love, D.O.D. (Dear Ol’ Dad)” — Leland L. Sprague
Leland is preceded in death by his parents Isaac and Eunice Sprague; brother Marvin M. Sprague, sisters Beverly B. Zehr and Diana D. Braun; and grandson Raymundo Benjamin Ollada IV.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Shelley Moore; and all his aforementioned children in addition to numerous wonderful, wonderful “grandchondren,” nieces and nephews, and his special friend, Blue.
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