James M. Sparks

James M. Sparks, 79, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on November 13, 2021. He was born in Worthington, Missouri on March 4, 1942, the son of Orville and Lois (Ledford) Sparks.
Like many families in the 1950s, Jim’s parents migrated to Rockford in search of economic opportunities. With hard work and grit, they established a life in their new city but never forgot their roots. Over the years, Jim, his parents, and his sister, Jean, made countless trips “down home” and stayed closely connected with family and friends from Missouri.
Jim graduated from Rockford East High School in 1959 and married the love of his life, Linda M. Wilmer, on June 24, 1961. They celebrated 56 wedding anniversaries and were rarely apart until Linda passed away in May 2018. Jim and Linda shared a special bond and simply enjoyed being together. He was her best friend, and later in life, gladly accepted the role of loving caregiver.
The couple’s two children were the center of their universe. As a father, Jim was patient, kind, and an excellent role model. He was there for the milestones, the mundane, and everything in between. Known as Boppa to his five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, he made each and every one of them feel special and loved.
After completing his training at Lincoln Barber College in East Moline, Illinois, Jim was a barber in the Rockford area for more than 50 years, spending most of his career at East State Barber Stylists before retiring in 2012. Beyond giving haircuts, Jim, along with Curt Moen (dec.), Lee Hudgin (dec.), and Gary Schoester, created a sense of community that kept customers coming back for decades. Jim was a good listener but also had a great, sometimes wry, sense of humor. He developed many lasting relationships with his customers and took pride in serving multiple generations of the same family.
An avid genealogist, Jim enjoyed researching his family history and meticulously traced some branches of his family tree back 20+ generations. Jim had an affinity for early rock and roll music, classic cars and hot rods, and hanging out with special friends he had known since high school.
Survived by daughters, Teresa (Bruce) Barch and Paula (Andrew) Awe; grandchildren, Stephanie (Jordan) Brown, Eric (Chelsea Miller) Barch, Daniel Barch, Jenna (Geordi) Hall, and Ian Kottman; great-grandchildren, Theodore Brown, Penelope Brown, and Adriana Hall; brother-in-law, Vic Galluzzo; nieces MariJean (Jeff) Lassek and Vickie Craig; several great nieces and nephews; aunt, Betty Ledford; and numerous cousins. Predeceased by his wife, Linda; parents, Orville and Lois; sister, Jean Galluzzo; several aunts and uncles.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff at SwedishAmerican Hospital as well as staff at Fair Oaks Rehabilitation and Health Care Center and Northern Illinois Hospice for the excellent care they provided.
Services will be private. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Jim’s final resting place will be at Scandinavian Cemetery next to his beloved wife. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.