“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Donald J. Sparby, age 59, of Merrill received eternal rest on April 24, 2021 with his trusty dog, Blu by his side. Don was born on November 24, 1961 in Wausau, WI to Martin and Dorothy (Lippe) Sparby. He received the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Holy Baptism in December 1961 at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Mosinee. In May of 1975 he was confirmed in his Christian faith at Immanuel. He graduated from Mosinee High School in 1979. On March 6, 1992 he married Linda Lee Davis in Bessemer, MI. Don’s employment began at Marathon Cheese. He later joined forces with his father as Sparby Construction. After his father retired, he teamed up with his brother-in-law and continued in the construction business. He also performed various janitorial and security services. Don enjoyed camping, fishing, deer hunting, pitching horseshoes, carpentry work, his grandchildren, and his one-in-a-lifetime fishing trip with his dad and brothers to the Northwest Territories. He was a happy-go-lucky guy and always put others before himself.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; four step-children, Stephanie Spoehr (Michele Perreault), Mark Spoehr (Karla), Jenny Hanson, and Shane Hanson (Leah); sixteen step-grandchildren, Amira, Brenna, Jake, Kristina, Kayla, Dyllan, Chase, Ali, James, Robert, Austin, Alex, Collin, Lydia, Sylvia, and Mia; four step-great-grandchildren, Carter, Vera, Eli, and Liam; two brothers, Rodney Sparby and Roger (Paulette) Sparby; two sisters, Eileen (Mike) Benz and Sannee (Chris) Utecht; and many nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-daughter, Molly Hanson; and step-great-grandson, Kolton.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Waid Funeral Home, 301 South Eagle Dr, Merrill. Rev. Andrew Ewald with officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service, also at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed and available for viewing under his obituary on the funeral home website. It will begin at 11am. Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.