Sparby, Helen Eloise

Helen Eloise Sparby, 90, a longtime resident of Iowa City, died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, at Mercy Iowa City. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City, with Pastor Karl Divine-Koch officiating (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church). Visitation will be one hour before the services at the church and a reception will follow the services. Private family burial will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City.

Online condolences may be sent to her family at .

Helen Eloise Suby was born May 5, 1922, on a farm near Fertile, Iowa. She was the daughter of Henry R. Suby and Iva F. Kirk Suby. Helen graduated from Fertile Consolidated High School in 1940. She married Alvin B. Sparby on Dec. 31, 1945, in Kensett Lutheran Church Parish. They lived in Humboldt and Clarion, Iowa, before moving to Iowa City with their two children, Debra and Ronald in 1960.

Helen was a studio photography painter for many years. She was also employed several years at ACT in Iowa City. She enjoyed painting, decorating, a sewing and doing things with her loving family and friends. She and Alvin were ardent canoers, members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Adult Fellowships of Iowa City, Norse Club and Moose Lodge. She enjoyed playing bingo and was a fan of The Lawrence Welk Show.

Helen's family includes her two granddaughters, Tonya McNabb of Seattle, Wash., and Kim (Eric) Eickman of Coralville; Kim's children, Zachary, Alexander and Jackson; her daughter-in-law, Amy Sparby and her children, Leah (Aaron) Burnett; granddaughter, Adeline, of Humboldt; son, Ben Roberts, of Iowa City; Helen's siblings, Roger Suby, Boyd Suby, Leon (Shirley) Suby and Phyllis (Bill) Clausen, all of Mason City, Allen (Nadine) Suby of Ankeny, and Linda (Tom) Price of Dewey, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin (1998), to whom she was married for 52 years; her daughter, Debbie McNabb; son, Ron; brother, Robert Suby; sisters-in-law, Colleen Suby, Delores Suby and Betty Suby; and brother-in-law, Jack O'Neil.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Helen's family and her services.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 7, 2012.