04/03/2026
“Lee” Sparks passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on the morning of April 3rd, 2026.
A celebration of life gathering for Ronald Lee Sparks, 77, of Knoxville will be held at a later date at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville to honor and celebrate his life.
Ronald Lee Sparks Born July 1, 1948, to the parents of Jonas and Bonnie (Roland) Sparks in Oskaloosa Iowa.
He was raised in Knoxville along with his brother Jerry. Lee left school after his 9th grade year and attained his GED in 1966 at age 18.
Lee’s true love, Linda Kendall, and him were married on November 25th, 1967.
One of his first jobs was driving on a route for the town’s sanitation company. He put in 28 dedicated years of service working at Maytag and briefly worked at Mathias Motors as well.
Lee had many hobbies and talents. He really loved fishing, trapping, and mushroom hunting. He truly was an outdoorsman.
Any time spent in nature he was in his happy place. He enjoyed playing poker, that usually came along with a lot of belly aching and complaining of which he did almost all the time even on good days.
Lee liked playing the guitar and had very special talents when it came to music and sound. Which gave him the opportunity to be the sound man for the Phoenix Band for 10 years. From time to time, he would enjoy tinkering in his own repair shop out back in their garage.
Most of all Lee had a big place in his heart for animals, especially the family dogs or cats Ellie, Molly, and Bubba, who he loved and cherished very much.
He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of 58 years, Linda and his son; Dan (Mindy) Sparks, sister; Chris (Stan)
Finken, grandchildren; Nici (Cody) Walker, Daniel Sparks, Beth Hopper, Brandon Herlein, and great grandchildren; Ember, Bella, Colten, River, and Justin, along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Jerry Sparks.