Mark Verner Sprague

Mark Verner Sprague Arcata resident, Mark Verner Sprague, 54, passed away on Friday October 24, 2014 at Cal Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco with his loved ones surrounding him. He passed unexpectedly due to a massive stroke. Mark was born on December 6, 1959 to Basil and Gracie Sprague. He was raised in Arcata, CA with his six brothers and sisters, and he graduated from Arcata High School in 1978. Mark served in the US Army for three years and was stationed in Garmisch, Germany and Monterey, CA. While in Germany, Mark served on the Ski Patrol. He also worked as a carpenter, building cabins and campgrounds in Garmisch, Germany. The time he spent in Germany was very important to him. Upon returning to the States he continued his love for carpentry as a profession and spent his life building and remodeling homes. Mark used his expertise in building to help others and was generous with his time and resources. Mark married Nancy Hogan on March 17, 1991, and they have three beautiful children Danielle Broer, Brandon Hux, and Taylor Sprague. Mark enjoyed life and the people around him. Mark was an avid hunter. He enjoyed hunting with friends and family and spending time outdoors. His most beloved passion was baseball. Growing up, he could always be found at a baseball field playing with his three brothers Basil, Bob, and Dave. Mark had a wonderful sense of humor and he brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. Mark was a great athlete and played sports his entire his life. Mark was a coach for many little league baseball teams in the McKinleyville/Arcata area. He loved coaching. Mark had the ability to bring the out best in any athlete with his amazing support and positive attitude. Mark passed his love of sports, his love of life, and his love of people to the three most important people in his life : his children Danielle, Brandon, and Taylor. Mark was loved by all who knew him and he will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, and this community. Mark is survived by: Nancy Sprague and their three children Danielle and David Broer, Brandon Hux and Taylor Sprague; Mark's pride and joy, his grandchildren: Carmen Miller and Constance Broer; his siblings Merla and Jinks St. John, Patti and Gary Wilkes, Bob Sprague, Dave and Sheri Sprague; his nieces and nephews Scott and Arron St. John, Carley Fagundes and Sarah Robins, Tami Rodeski, Chris Rodeski, Brad Beloni and Amanda Beloni, Billy Sprague, Mikey Sprague, Nick Sprague, Katie, Robbi and Paul, Tosha Sprague and Jessica Sprague, Haylee and Hannah Hogan; and his mother and father-in-law Bill and Bobbie Hogan; and his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Carrie Hogan. Mark was preceded in death by his father Basil Sprague, his sister and brother-in-law Lee and Bruce Beloni, and his brother Basil "Bill" Sprague. Services will be held at 1:00pm Sunday November 2, 2014 at the Redwood Lodge, 490 E. Park Road Arcata, CA 95521 (inside Redwood Park, near outdoor basketball court). Memorial donations can be made to Homeruns in Heaven, established to honor Mark Sprague. Funds will be used to help children throughout the community who are not able to afford the necessities to play or to join the baseball leagues. Visit http://www.gofundme.com/MarkSprague to make a donation or for more information. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.