James H. "Jim" Sparks

James H. “Jim” Sparks, 76, of Dandridge, TN, formerly of Bettendorf, IA, and Abingdon, IL, passed away much too soon on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at his home in Tennessee. On June 4, 1943, in Titonka, IA, the Universe gifted Jim, the second of two sons, to Howard and Verna June (Dimond) Sparks. He grew up farming. Jim graduated from State College of Iowa (UNI) with a degree in Mathematics, and soon began working as an industrial engineer at Oscar Meyer in Davenport. He continued employment there until his retirement in 1998. In the following years, Jim became interested in creating stained glass artworks, and met Lu Ann Steffen, a fellow artist. The two later moved from Illinois into the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Among other activities, Jim continued to ride his Harley, work with glass, travel, read voraciously, mow the lawn, and voice his opinions. Ever a kid at heart, Jim delighted in assigning surreptitious nicknames to everyone he knew. He has a passion for cooking and could often be found in the kitchen experiencing with recipes. He had a keen intellect and a unique sense of humor. He enjoyed his Jeep, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and FOX News. He never sang and claimed he couldn’t. He loved his country, his privacy, guns, tequila, and hot sauce. To say Jim valued a dollar would be an understatement. To say Jim valued his close friends and family would be another one. Jim will be remembered as opinionated, ornery, quick-witted, rational, practical, and at the core, sincere and loving. He possessed the increasingly-rare quality of caring. He was pleasingly one-of-a-kind. There will never be another like him. A visitation will be held at Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Home, Cambridge, IL, on Saturday, May 30, 2020. From noon to 2:00pm. He will be “planted” at Rosedale Cemetery, Cambridge, IL, at a graveside service immediately following the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim’s honor to Friends of the Smokies, for preservation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or to Britt Hobo Days Association, in Britt, IA. Those surviving to cherish the memories of Jim’s sarcastic wit, impish laugh, and unique charm include his “partner in crime,” Lu Ann Steffen; son, Joshua Sparks; daughter, Brandi (Dave) Wayt; “G-sons,” Greg and Nick Wayt; Bob the cat; extended family and many like-minded friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Darryl.