Phillip "Sparky" W. Sparks

Phillip “Sparky” W. Sparks, 86, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Traditions Memory Care of Newton. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Historic Bruce Funeral Home of Fort Dodge. 

Phillip was born August 31, 1939, in Des Moines, IA, the son of Howard and Faye (Slater) Sparks. He graduated from Colo High School in 1958. Phil served in the Iowa National Guard. On November 24, 1973, he was united in marriage to Linda M. Freitag in Beloit, WI. Over the years, Phil was a police officer, a manager at several retail stores, a top salesman for American Family Insurance and then began his own insurance business. He operated “Pass the Buck” located in the mall. He had a few different antique shops, offering many services related to that. He began his Auctioneering career in 1985 until his retirement in 2019. He truly loved being an auctioneer and being around people was his favorite part. He was well known in Fort Dodge for Sparky’s Auction Services. He was also very passionate about the Iowa Hawkeyes. Phil’s best trait was his humor! Everyone that came in contact with him would soon be laughing. That is what he and his brothers did best- they were the life of party when together! Phil had an incredibly charitable heart! This world lost a kind and generous man.

Phil is survived by his wife of 52 years: Linda Sparks of Fort Dodge; 5 children: Jeff Sparks and wife April of Altoona, IA, Will Lee of Milwaukee, WI, Jody Rasmussen and husband Mike of Harpers Ferry, IA, Mike Lee and wife Darla of Beloit, WI and Nathan Sparks and wife Alyssa of Fort Dodge; 9 grandchildren: Matt, Megan, Heather, Heidi, Hannah, Brianna, Jacob, Joel and Jonah; 12 great grandchildren: Barrett, Adaline, Tessa, Levi, Ethan, Caleb, Laila, Isaiah, Grayson, Oakley, Taylor and Maiya; and 4 siblings: Ray Sparks and wife Annette of Tennessee, Dick Sparks and wife Vicky of Wisconsin, Dinah Sparks and partner Gregg Kudela of Florida and Jack Sparks and partner Becky Holmes of Texas He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 11 siblings: Bob Sparks, William Sparks, Leroy Sparks, Glen Sparks, Shirley McIntosh, Donna Sparks, Dorie Strozewski, Terry “TJ” Sparks and Charles “Chuck” Sparks, Raymond Sparks, Donald Sparks and 3 sisters-in-law: Arlene Sparks, Hazel Sparks and Salley Sparks.