Claude (Sparky) Emerson Gore

Memorial services for Claude (Sparky) Gore, age 90, of Mason City will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Glenville.  Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.  Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church.

Sparky died Thursday, February 4, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Health Care Center in Mason City.

Claude (Sparky) Emerson Gore was born October 8, 1925 near Roland, Iowa to James and Theresa Gore.  He graduated from Northwood High School in 1944.  He served with the United States Army from 1944-1946 as Army personnel on board the U.S.S. Brazil.  Sparky married Evelyn Mellum on January 25, 1948 at the First Lutheran Church of Glenville. He managed the Princess Theater in St. James from 1951-1956.  They then moved to Glenville and owned Sparky’s Standard Station until 1972.  Sparky then took courses to enable him to teach small engine repair classes.  He taught classes in Albert Lea, Emmons, and Owatonna for a number of years.

Sparky was an active member of the First Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school and Bethel classes.  He was a past member of the Glenville Recreation Board, active in starting the Glenville swimming pool, and a member of the volunteer fire department from 1956-1972.  He was also a member of the American Legion and V.F.W. and a member of the Glenville School Board for 6 years.

Sparky and his wife Evelyn enjoyed snowbirding in Mesa, Arizona for a number of years with many friends from around the Glenville/Albert Lea area.  In 2010, he and his wife moved to Mason City to live at The Manor.  Sparky continued his carving hobby in the upstairs workshop.  He traveled to Albert Lea every Thursday to visit with a group of buddies from the Albert Lea YMCA.  Sparky had many interests including hunting, fishing, collecting guns, wood carving, birds, trap shooting, various collections and gardening.  Special enjoyment came from being with his grandchildren.

Sparky is survived by his wife Evie; two sons, Matthew Dean (Jill) Gore and John Joseph (Pam) Gore; seven grandchildren, Andrew (Andrea) Gore, Mitchell (Sara) Gore, Kyle Epsteen, Jake Epsteen, Samuel (Stacey) Gore, Lucas (Rachel) Gore, and Karin Gore; great-grandchildren Avery Gore and Larkin Gore; two sisters-in-law, Arline Gore and Patricia Gore; and many nieces and nephews.

Sparky was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Ruth (Melvin) Carruthers and Edith (Lavern) Throne; three brothers, Earl (Norma), Bob, and Marvin Gore; and nephews, Larry, Rollin, Ronald, and Randy Gore.