Fr. Jack Sparks

Archpriest at St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Fr. Jack Sparks, 81, died in Eagle River on Feb. 8, 2010.

A funeral will be held 7 p.m. tonight at St. John’s, 18936 Monastery Dr. in Eagle River. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Immediately following the service will be an all-night vigil. Divine Liturgy will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a graveside service at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s Cemetery. A Mercy Meal in the Cathedral basement will immediately follow the graveside service.

Fr. Jack Sparks was born Dec. 3, 1928, to Oakley and Geraldine Sparks in Lebanon, Ind. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1960, he taught at the University of Northern Colorado and Penn State University. Fr. Jack began his ministry as a director coordinator with Campus Crusade for Christ in San Bernardino, Calif., in 1968 and continued his ministry as director of Christian World Liberation Front — a ministry to students and street people in Berkeley, Calif. In 1977, he was one of the founders and dean of Saint Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology, in both Santa Barbara and Elk Grove, Calif. He was ordained into the Orthodox Priesthood in 1987. He also authored a number of books published between 1971 and 2003 and served for the better part of a decade as the project director of the Orthodox Study Bible.

Fr. Jack and his wife, Esther, moved to Eagle River in 2004.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Ted Sparks.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Esther; his son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Valorie Sparks of Eagle River; his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Steve Templeton of Eagle River; sons Robert and Jonathan, both of Elk Grove, Calif.; sisters Alberta Broyles of Pittsboro, Ind., and Mary Frye of Spencer, Ind.; and many grandchildren.

The Sparks and Templeton families would like to thank all of those who have given their love and care to Fr. Jack. There will be a memorial fund set up at St. John’s.