Bernard Earl "Barney" Sprang

PERRYSVILLE: Bernard "Barney" Earl Sprang passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the age of 90, in McMullen Assisted Care.
He was born at home on August 26, 1934, in Perrysville, Ohio, to parents Simon and Carrie (Brenneman) Sprang. Growing up in Perrysville, Barney enjoyed playing sports, especially basketball, in high school. In his junior year, the Perrysville Basketball team won the Ashland County League and the Ashland County Tournament. Barney would go on to graduate from Perrysville High School with the class of 1953.
While in school, Barney started working at the Pottery in Perrysville after school and on Saturdays until graduation. He began working full-time in May 1953 and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in March 1957. Barney went on to serve two years in the Army and an additional three years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, being honorably discharged in 1962.
In the summer of 1956, Barney started dating Bonnie Black, a school teacher. After basic training, the couple decided to get married on May 14, 1957, in Perrysville at the Lutheran Church. The pair went on to raise two children together and were married for 56 years until Bonnie's passing in 2014.
After returning home from the military in 1958, Barney and Bonnie moved to Colorado for a short period of time, returning to Perrysville in 1961. Barney continued to work at Mansfield Plumbing Products and retired in 1996 after 43 years of service.
Earlier in life, Barney took pleasure in playing slow-pitch softball and bowling for the Mansfield Plumbing Products Leagues. He was also very active within the Perrysville Community. He was a 59-year member with perfect attendance of the Perrysville Lions Club, served as past president, and was chairman of the Car Show. Barney also received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award as a Lion, which is one of the highest-achieving awards. Barney was a long-time member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Perrysville and served on the Perrysville Fair Board and parade chairman.
More recently, Barney was very dedicated to following and watching local and regional high school sports. He would follow several teams and travel to watch and support them.
He is survived by his daughter, Stacie (Dave) Smith of Bellville; his grandchildren, Jared Pierce of Ashland and Christy (Kai) Langendoen of Texas; his great-granddaughter Rhea Langendoen; brothers-in-law Rex Black of Perrysville and Larry "Lanny" Black of Mansfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Barney was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Sprang; his son Scott Sprang; and his siblings Glenn Sprang, Howard Sprang, Raymond Sprang Sr., Jacob Sprang, Don Sprang, and Dorothy Stake.
Barney's family will receive friends Friday, January 31, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Snyder Funeral Home- Lindsey Chapel, Loudonville. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. Pastor John Temple will officiate and burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Perrysville.
Contributions in Barney's memory may be made to McMullen Assisted Care at the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Home-Lindsey Chapel is honored to serve Barney's family and encourages you to share a memory or condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com