Lloyd Beryl Sparrow, 104, of Lomax, Ill, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, one day before his 105th birthday, at the Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab in Stronghurst, Ill.
Beryl was born April 20, 1920 in Lomax the son of Lloyd W. and Bessie M. Burkiett Sparrow. On Jan. 18, 1952, he married Fern F. Welch at the Church of the Nazarene in Lomax. She survives.
Beryl lived all of his life in the Lomax area. He was a 1939 graduate of Dallas City High School. While in high school, Beryl assisted his father with the operation of the Lomax Canning Factory. Following high school, he attended college, before joining his brother, Vernal, in a farming operation. He also owned and operated heavy equipment on their farm and many other local farms. Later, Beryl returned to the Lomax Canning Factory, to work along side his father once more. After the closing of the Canning Factory, he continued to farm in the Lomax area until his retirement in 1990. After retirement, he remained active operating Beryl’s This & That in Lomax. He was a member of the Henderson County Farm Bureau and the Lomax Church of the Nazerene, where he received the 2002 Distinguished Service Award.
Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Fern, five children: Carla (Don) Williams of West Burlington, Lloyd E. (Janie) Sparrow of Ocala, Florida, Ann (Michael) Brooks of Crestview, Florida, Martin Sparrow of Dallas City and Byron (Jennifer) Sparrow of Stronghurst; 11 grandchildren: Adonica (Michael) Gould, Lucas (Kaylin) Sparrow, John (Stephanie) Sparrow, Chastity (Steve) Heagerty, Marc (Skye Moore) Sparrow, Bobby Sparrow, Danielle Sparrow, Monte Cole, Kaitlin (Matt) McVey, Jacob Sparrow and Mitchell Sparrow, 13 great-grandchildren and one sister-in-law, Jean Anne Sparrow of Salem, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Helen Hunter Pfieffer and Vera Mae Logan, one brother: Vernal Sparrow and one daughter-in-law: Traci Sparrow.
The funeral service for Beryl will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe with Pastor Jordan Knight officiating.
The family will receive friends Thursday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe.
As per Beryl’s wishes, following services his body will be donated to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa. Burial will be held at a later date in Crane Cemetery, near Lomax.
A memorial fund has been established for Oak lane Nursing and Rehab.