Services and visitation will be held on Sunday, April 7 at the Clemons United Church of Christ in Clemons, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with funeral services following at 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place at the Clemons Cemetery immediately following the services. Mitchell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Ina Mae was born August 31, 1925, in Mondamin, Iowa, the youngest of four children of Leonard and Ruth Rash. She had two sisters and one brother – Elma, Lois and Leo Jay. She moved to Union, IA when she was in 4th grade and graduated from Union High School in 1942. She worked as a telephone operator in Union following graduation. During World War II, she worked at Hinson Manufacturing in Waterloo, IA sewing items for the military. Ina Mae was united in marriage to Roger Sparks on October 6, 1945 and they moved to their farm north of Clemons in 1950. Roger and Ina Mae farmed most of their married life. They were blessed with two daughters, Kathy and Rosa Lea.

Ina Mae was a long-term member of the United Church of Christ in Clemons and supported the church on many committees over the years. She was also a member of the Disabled Veteran’s Auxiliary. She was an avid gardener and crafter. She always had a craft or sewing project in the works. Her grandchildren are the recipients of many afghans and quilts.

Ina Mae is survived by her children – Kathy Goecke (Marty Sutten) and Rosa Lea Bachman (Dennis) and her grandchildren, Megan Maikowski (Ryan), Taran Ruther (Tad) and Chase Bachman (Teresa), and her great grandchildren, Ciara and Ellie Bachman, Aubrey and Ava Ruther, and Mason and Maddyn Maikowski. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and her sister-in-laws – Virginia Clemons, Nola German and Joanne Benner. She loved her big Sparks family!

Ina Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Sparks, her parents Leonard and Ruth Rash, and her extended Rash family – Elma Wagner, Allison and Lois Westcott, Mary Ann Westcott, George and Kay Westcott, Terry Westcott and Leo Jay and Arlene Rash. She was preceded in death by many of her extended Sparks family as well – Floyd and Louise Sparks, Jim and Evelyn Sparks, Floyd and Virginia Sparks, Bill Clemons, Billy Bruce Clemons, John and Maxine Mohr, Michael Mohr, Barbara Allen, Joan Ferneau, Don and Mary Sparks, Russell and Betty Sparks, Lavern German, John Sparks, and Bob Benner.

Memorials may be directed to the family and will be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.

– Lovingly written by the family