Spergslage, Richard William

Richard William Sperfslage was born May 22, 1930, in rural Earlville, Iowa, the son of Frank and Magdaline Eike Sperfslage. At age 79 years, Richard entered into his eternal rest on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a short illness.   Visitation will be today until 10 a.m. at Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monti. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Richard attended rural schools near his home. He was united in marriage to Ethel Greiner on Sept. 11, 1950, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Earlville. They farmed near Earlville in 1951 for one year, near Ryan from 1952 to 1959, and then moved to their present farm near Monti. In his leisure time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting and in the past few years, he restored antique farm equipment.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Rodney; his brother, LeRoy; and his grandson, Nicholas Sperfslage.

 Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Ethel, of Winthrop; seven sons, David (Coleen) of Winthrop, Dan (Diane) of Aurora, Dennis of Independence, Roger (Shelley) of Winthrop, Don (Verna) of Winthrop, Richard (Wendy) of Winthrop and Dean (Dana) of Edgewood; five daughters, Ruth Ann (Jim) Mangold of Ryan, Rita (Bob) Knutson of Rowley, Rose Mary Sperfslage of Manchester, Diane (Dean Stone) Sperfslage of Oelwein and Darleen (Rich) Espe of Oelwein; 30 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; seven brothers, Francis (Joan) of Edgewood, Harold (Iva) of Phoenix, Ariz., Lawrence (Alice) of Strawberry Point, Eugene (Janet) of Coggon, Norbert (Sharon) of Cedar Rapids and Jim (Lucy) and Tom (Lou), both of Central City; and two sisters, Dorothy Ann Hilby of Masonville and Viola (Clifford) Bentley of Shueyville.

Messages may be sent to the family at