Richard Sparrow, age 79, of Dwight, Illinois passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at 5:46 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2022, at Morris Hospital in Morris, Illinois. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Hager Memorial Home in Dwight, Illinois. Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 from 4 until 7 p.m., also at Hager Memorial Home. Private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Richard may be made to the Prairie Creek Public Library, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Hager Memorial Home in Dwight is in charge of arrangements. Richard was born February 13, 1943 in Streator, Illinois, the son of Wendell and Thalia (Scott) Sparrow. He married his High School sweetheart, Sheryl Frazier, on June 17, 1962 in the First Congregational Church of Dwight and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. She survives in Dwight. Also surviving are children:  Mike (Michele) Sparrow, Rick (Jeanene) Sparrow, and Laurie (Mike) Turner; grandchildren: Ty Sparrow, Hayley Sparrow, and Cody Sparrow, all of Dwight; his best friend, John “Richard” Spaulding, and wife, Diana, of California; sister – in – law, Carole Frazier of Shorewood, Illinois; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Andy Sparrow; sisters – in – law: Marsha Sparrow and Marilyn Rygh; brothers – in – law: Chuck Frazier and John Rygh; and a brother in infancy. Richard worked for many years at RR Donnelley and Sons, and traveled to numerous countries while on the job, allowing him and Sheryl to see: Poland, Chile and China, to name a few. Richard loved to read and was an avid fisherman. He also fell in love with the game of golf, later in life. After retiring, he and Sheryl spent the winter months in Yuma, Arizona, and met many lifelong friends while doing so. He loved spending his weekends with his buddies, Gerry and Jack, at the Route 66 historical gas station, spreading his wisdom and knowledge to all the travelers who stopped in. Richard was definitely one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all who knew him, or as he would say, “well, almost all.” Condolences may be left at www.calvertmemorial.com

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