David Elmer Sparrow

David Elmer Sparrow, 69, of Carthage, Illinois, passed away at 7:58 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

Dave was born Dec. 22, 1955, the son of Elmer and Virginia (Hagmeier) Sparrow in Keokuk.

He attended Keokuk High School where he played football, graduating in 1975.

On May 7, 1981, he was united in marriage with Jill Howard and from that union came a son, Adam. They were later divorced. On April 28, 2001, he was united in marriage with Stacey Brown at the Presbyterian Church in Carthage. She survives.

Dave worked in security at Keokuk Hospital, then BTR in Keokuk where he was known as Sgt. Dave Sparrow, and on the Emerald Lady. He was groundskeeper for Oakland Cemetery in Hamilton. He also worked as delivery driver for Hartricks Lumber in Keokuk for many years, then worked at Ace Hardware and Farm King in Burlington. He spent his last five years as a door greeter at Keokuk Walmart.

He had been a member of the Keokuk Jaycees and Eagles Club, as well as the Hancock County Gun Club.

In his younger years he played softball for the Jaycees. He was a big Chicago Cubs fan, but he especially enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs play. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed sitting on the banks of the Mississippi or taking his wife deer hunting. Dave loved all sorts of animals but had a huge heart for his dogs, which he loved spending time with and spoiling. Most of all he loved spending time with and being among his family and friends.

Dave is survived by his wife, Stacey, of Carthage; son Adam (Betty) Sparrow of Winfield, Iowa; brother, Kevin (Donna) Sparrow of Keokuk; his mother-in-law, Norma Brown of Carthage; brothers-in-law, Barton (Mary) Brown of Canton, Illinois, William Geissler of Basco, and David Prior of Carthage; grandchildren, Lucus, Elizabeth, and Joseph; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his beloved fur babies, Dacey Lynn, Bailey Jo, Rizzo Lee, and Akira Lynn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Allen Sparrow, Shirley Davidson and Linda Davis; sisters-in-law, Teresa Geissler and Sheila Prior; and father-in-law, Charles Brown.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday evening at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage.