Marcia Dee Sparks

Marcia Dee Sparks, 72, of Winterset, Iowa, died Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 30, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset with Father Thomas Dooley officiating. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, 2020 at the church, with a prayer vigil at 6 p.m. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery at Winterset, Iowa. We ask that everyone follow the CDC regulations, which includes social distancing and wearing a mask. Marcia was born on October 6, 1948, at Rock Island, Illinois to Ralph and Merna (Vincent) Gilmore. She was married on June 2, 1972 at LeMars, Iowa, to James William Sparks. She and Jim moved to Winterset in 1975, and together they started the Bakery Unlimited in Winterset in 1984. She had a love for baking and a passion to serve others. For a few years she also taught piano lessons from home. She enjoyed cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas City Chiefs. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. Marcia was a member of the Progressive Study Club, Winterset Music Club, St. Joseph’s Ladies Club, Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Iowa Bakers Association, Retail Bakers Association, National Federation of Independent Business, and was organist for the St. Joseph Catholic Church for 45 years. She graduated from Aledo High School in Aledo, Illinois, attended Sterling College in Kansas from 1966 to 1968, then graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Food & Nutrition Research in 1970. Marcia is survived by her father, Ralph Gilmore; husband, Jim Sparks; children, Oliver (Kristal) Sparks, Benjamin (Stephanie) Sparks, Katie Sparks, and Ian Sparks; sisters, Glennys Doane and Linda Tank; and eight grandchildren, Brady Sparks, Leah Sparks, Faith Sparks, Mason Sparks, Audrey Sparks, Levi Sparks, Asher Sparks, and Vivian Sparks. She was preceded in death by her mother, Merna (Vincent) Gilmore and son, Nathan Dee Sparks. Memorials may be directed to her family for a future designation. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home Winterset Chapel. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com.