Warren Sparks

Memorial services for Warren K. Sparks, 77, Iowa City, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave., Iowa City.
Mr. Sparks died Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, at Iowa City Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born Dec. 24, 1932, in Indianapolis, the son of Warren and Mable Sparks. He was an all-city athlete. After graduating from high school, he attended Butler University in Indianapolis, where he was in the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Sparks joined the armed forces and served during the Korean War.
Mr. Sparks spent his working years in the steel business. He started Contractors Steel Corp. in 1973 in Des Moines, Iowa, opening a branch in Wilton, Iowa, in 1986. In 1995 he retired and moved to Iowa City.
Mr. Sparks had been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, Iowa and American Concrete Paving Associations, and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute. He was a 33rd degree Mason.
He married Cherry Sheppard on April 14, 1957, in Indianapolis. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Warren (Kathy) Sparks, Shawnee, Kan.; a daughter, Robin (Edwin) Ricci, Dallas; four grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Ann Lowe, Hales Corners, Wis.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services Monday at the church.
The family suggests memorials to Frank Baird Scholarship Fund at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis or the National Parkinson’s Foundation, sent in care of Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, 2720 Muscatine Ave., Iowa City, IA 52240. Online condolences can be made at gayandciha.com.