Cindy Rae Sparrow

Cindy Rae Sparrow (née Stillwell)

4/24/1960-8/30/2024

Born in Brainerd Minnesota, died Albert Lea, Minnesota 

Cindy Sparrow passed away in the early hours of Friday August 30, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents Mr. Richard Bert Stillwell and Mrs. Lena Cordelia Stillwell (née Hoareux), her siblings Rick Stillwell and Linda Nachtsheim. She is survived by her two sons Jacob Sparrow and Joshua Sparrow, her daughter-in-law Wesley Sparrow and her siblings Gloria Brown, Marsha Morgan, Maryanne Wagner, Sherry Shockman, and Scott Stillwell and many nieces and nephews.

Raised in a family of 8 kids, Cindy was the second youngest. This probably led her to grow into the strong independent woman she became. A woman who loved nature and had a passion for education, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college and later going on to receive her Master's and begin teaching at many Colleges and Universities around Minnesota. 

She had strong opinions about many social and political issues especially concerning environmental issues and human rights. This is reflected in many of the things she did at different points in her life. Cindy was an advocate for Native Americans and for people with disabilities, a dragon boat racer, a forest ranger hopeful, and a Professor Geography. She was a creative soul who enjoyed creating pottery, stained glass, and jewelry and enjoyed musical theater.

What Cindy loved most in this world were her sons and her dogs. The family would like to believe that Cindy is somewhere in heaven with all of the dogs she has had over the years playing with and loving on all of them. 

To honor her we will be getting together to share memories and stories of Cindy in a Celebration of Life Ceremony to be held at the Legion in Brainerd on Saturday 9/14/2024 beginning at 11am. For those who can not travel if you would like to join us we will be streaming and able to interact with you at the following google meets address. meet.google.com/ghs-cdfp-zaq

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in Cindy’s honor to The Conservation Fund at https://www.conservationfund.org/donate