Obituary of Wayne Sparling

WAYNE SPARLING

APRIL 5, 1935 – MARCH 4, 2023

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Wayne, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, brother(in-law), uncle, and friend to many.

He was predeceased by his wife of over 60 years, Mary (nee Gibson), Son Troy, father and mother Art and Marjorie, sister Sherrill Carvey and her husband Murray, sister-in-law Barb Sparling, father and mother-in-law Bert and Madeline Gibson.

He is survived by daughter Karen (Brett) Mandryk, son Brent, brother Rick, along with brother and sister-in-law Terry and Gale Gibson, and Carol and Bill Stadnyk, as well as his grandchildren Adam (Kelli) Moore, Hailie (Darren Everatt) Moore, Laine Brazeau, Michael, Krista, and Seanna Sparling, and great grandchildren Sophie, Addison, PJ, Leah, and Lachlan.

Wayne was born in Wellwood, MB and at an early age moved to Neepawa. He was very active in sports and besides winning Neepawa Collegiate’s table tennis championship he also won the high school curling. He was on 4 minor hockey Manitoba Championship teams (48-49  BB’s, 49-50 AB’s, 50-51 Juveniles and the 52-53 Juveniles) and was a pitcher for the Neepawa Cubs baseball team with whom he won several Neepawa District League Championships and many tournaments, and was inducted into the Neepawa Baseball Hall of Fame before turning his attention to curling. He made many life long friends in hockey, and baseball and would meet many more in curling and golf. Wayne played in and won his share of many curling bonspiels throughout the Westman area. His passion besides his family and sports was singing. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church choir and with the Lions Manor choir. In his younger years in Minnedosa he was a member of the band The Merchants, playing the base guitar and singing.

In the early years, while in Neepawa, Wayne worked for his father at Sparling Electric and was responsible for most of the town’s TV antennas that stood above the town skyline on top of many stores along Mountain Avenue and Hamilton Street. After his father’s passing in 1957, he worked for Fenwick’s the Conquergood’s before opening his own furniture store in Minnedosa. 

From Minnedosa he went to work for Bottomley’s Furniture in downtown Brandon and eventually Mr. B’s Furniture and Appliance Warehouse. Defehr Furniture bought out Mr. B’s and Wayne became manager there and when Defehr’s sold out to Dufresne’s he managed that store until his retirement.

Wayne will be remembered for his quick wit, always making a joke. He had a special way with words and could produce a poem or rhyme on a dime, and would always be ready with a bedtime story for his grandkids.

At Wayne’s request he was cremated and there will be a grave-side service with family and friends in warmer weather.