Louis Rudolph Sparre

Louis Rudolph Sparre was born on July 17, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland.  He died in his home on April 16, 2024 at the age of 83.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ilene (Gans), sister Elaine (Sigmund) Mekosky, brother Raymond (Becki) Sparre, his three daughters, Melissa (Peter) Chambers, Candace (Brian) Bosma, and Stephanie (Marc) Blum, 6 grandsons, 4 granddaughters, and one great granddaughter, all of whom were surprised that he did not die in any of the following ways: skiing off cliffs, sailing in thunderstorms, climbing mountains, jumping out of airplanes (as a paratrooper in the Army), smuggling Bibles into communist countries, preaching Jesus illegally in third world countries (there is still a warrant out for his arrest in Myanmar), evangelizing internationally during a global pandemic at the age of 80, climbing ladders to the top rung, riding unruly horses, building the Valley’s tallest tree house, befriending criminals while sharing the gospel, driving sports cars too fast, doing his own electrical work, or painting houses balancing on rickety homemade scaffolding 3 stories high.  All of which he did. 

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington and taught 6th grade in Sunnyside for decades before retiring, but everyone knew his true vocation was in Christian ministry.  He was ordained in 1983 as a Foursquare minister and spent the rest of his life in one capacity of ministry or another: pastor, church planter, missionary, evangelist.  He read his Bible every single day of his life, and would walk the acres of his farm for an hour or more each morning in thoughtful prayer.  He had a voracious appetite for knowledge.  Books from every subject line the shelves of his office, but most of them are theological, his mind still thirsty for fresh knowledge of God until his final day.  He put his faith into action: he helped the poor, anyone in need actually, with material goods, free labor with his handyman skills, visiting the sick and imprisoned, counseling lost souls and pointing them towards Christ.  His solution to every problem was to first pray, then problem solve, and he loved more than anything to tell stories of how the Lord answered his prayers.  There was not a person who met him who wouldn’t find out within minutes that this man loved the Lord Jesus Christ. 

He possessed many talents: singing, playing guitar, drawing, painting.  He could fix absolutely anything, often with unorthodox methods, for which he earned the nickname MacGyver.  Caught in an unpredictable snowstorm, he once made a set of tire chains using some baling twine and a coat hanger.  He fixed a faulty Lexus engine with a gum wrapper, and a washing machine with a bread tie.  His garage shop is filled with odds and end parts he would organize, knowing they would come in handy in some way eventually: crafting sets and props for the plays his daughter directed, fixing cars for those who couldn’t afford to pay a mechanic, repairing toys for his grandchildren.  From his shop you could hear him blaring out eclectic music from every time period and genre, for he truly loved music, and would enthusiastically invite anyone who visited to come and listen to a newly discovered song in which he delighted. 

He loved a good adventure, and took his family on plenty when his children were young.  Then retirement came, and he and his wife were finally able to travel, which they did with gusto, visiting over 40 countries, primarily as evangelists.  While many dream of a typical relaxing vacation, to Louis that seemed boring, but to be able to travel and share the gospel was a worthwhile adventure.  His children recall the majority of family vacations seemed to end up with someone accepting Christ.  Even on their last proper vacation, to Kauai in 2019, the caretaker at the villa he and Ilene rented was left with a Bible and a conversion experience. 

He discovered skiing at age 12 and remained an avid life-long skier, even more so when at the age of 73 he discovered he could ski White Pass for free.  His cardiologists grimly warned him for years to stop skiing, advice he completely ignored.  Though not quite reckless, he was certainly fearless, for he had no doubt in his mind where he was going.  In the last decade of his life he became infatuated with the idea of heaven, spending hours on books and in conversations about it.  So when the dust settled on April 16th, though their hearts were heavy, all of his family and friends knew without a doubt that he was finally home, discovering the ultimate adventure, heaven itself, which he had spent his life pointing so many others towards, and so longed for himself, and had finally reached.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA.  Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Outlook Cemetery, Outlook, WA.   Those wishing to sign Louis online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com   Smith Funeral Home in care of arrangements. 

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