Ralph Eugene Sprague

December 15, 1927 - December 24, 2011

Ralph Eugene (Gene) Sprague, 84, of Brookfield, passed away Saturday December 24, 2011 in Columbia. Gene was a life long Brookfield resident and a Linn County business icon. He was a United States Navy and Korean War Veteran. Gene owned and operated Spragues Locker and Slaughtering Service and had been in business nearly 60 years. Born December 15, 1927 to Ralph and Christina Cheek Sprague he attended school in Brookfield and was a proud Bulldog lineman. In February 1948 he married Nancy King and together they had three children; Patti Fagan and husband David, Marceline. Dennis Sprague and wife Lynda, Brookfield. Susan Mosier and husband Dale, Marceline. Gene was blessed with eight grandsons; Jonathan, Lucas and Marc Fagan. Nicholas and wife Jana and Kyle Sprague. Ben, Brad, and Brian Mosier. Gene often said he lived a second childhood through the adventures of the eight grandsons. They would often swap stories from football and coon hunting to water skiing and breaking horses. Gene also had a great-granddaughter, Brooklyn Smith. Also surviving is a brother, Lawrence and wife Hurla Sprague; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Rosalee King, Dick and Joan King, Jim and Sherry King, and G. L. and Nola King. Gene had been a long time member of the Brookfield Elk's and Eagle's and a current member of the VFW. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday December 28, 2011 at the Park Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, Brookfield, with Reverend Joe Smith and Reverend David Blakely officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Cemetery, Brookfield. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm Tuesday December 27, 2011 at the Park Baptist Church Fellowship Hall with family receiving friends from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Memorial donations have been suggested to the local Petska Cancer Fund and or VFW Post 4557 and may be left at or sent to Rhodes Funeral Home, 216 Linn Street, Brookfield, Missouri 64628.