Gerald (Jerry) Sprouse
Gerald (Jerry) Sprouse, age 70, of Polo, MO, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 9 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City.
Jerry was born on May 10, 1950, in Braymer, to James and Ellen Sprouse. He attended elementary and middle school in Cowgill, and graduated from Polo High School in 1968.
While going to school at Polo High, he met his future bride, Rhonda Evans. The two would marry Feb. 15, 1969, less than one year following their graduation. Jerry and Rhonda lived in Hamilton and Jerry commuted to work at the General Motors Fairfax plant in Kansas City, KS, where he would remain for 35 years.
He and Rhonda were expecting their first child when Uncle Sam came knocking in 1969. Jerry was drafted into the Army and left for Vietnam in March 1970. He returned in February 1971 to Rhonda and their 10-month-old baby daughter, Angela.
Throughout his life, Jerry was active in the First Christian Church of Polo, where he was an elder, the Polo Masonic Lodge #232, and American Legion Post 557. He also was a member of the VFW Department of Missouri.
Jerry volunteered weekly for 25 years with Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry and delivered Meals on Wheels the last several years. He also was on the Cowgill Cemetery Board. As active as he was in his volunteer endeavors, Jerry decided years after retiring to keep even busier while working for IBA as a medical courier. He enjoyed his long road trips to places like Yankton, S.D.
A consummate storyteller, Jerry loved nothing more than a good joke. To those listening, it was often more humorous to watch Jerry trying to tell the joke than the actual joke itself. He grew up with a love for music and played the guitar and mandolin. With his brother-in-law and friends, the Bob Berger Band was formed and regularly went on tour to perform at area nursing homes, where the audiences were gracious with their applause.
Jerry loved being a part of his church family and also loved his pastor Wally Aubrey. They were very close. Jerry’s pride and joy were his boys, Jacob and Evan. He attended Jacob’s hockey games and had to contain Rhonda when she wanted to harm a referee. Evan’s basketball and baseball games were always family events, which Jerry really enjoyed.
Jerry was preceded in death by his daughter, Angela; parents; and brother, Jim.
He is survived by his wife, Rhonda; daughter, Janie Dyhouse (Tim); grandchildren, Jacob Van Ness and Amanda, Clay and Evan Dyhouse; sisters, Marilyn Bowman and Betty Sprouse; brother, Bill Sprouse; and many nieces and nephews. Jerry also leaves behind many cousins, including Earl Alspach in Wyoming, whom Jerry considered another brother and would talk to multiple times a week.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the First Christian Church of Polo. The family will greet visitors at 10 a.m., with a Masonic service at 10:45, prior to the memorial service. Masks will be required at the services. Full military honors will be provided by the Polo American Legion Post #557 following the service at the church. The service will be streamed via Pastor Wally Aubrey’s Facebook page. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Cowgill Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday at Stith Family Funeral Home in Polo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to any of the following organizations: Polo Christian Church, Christ Cupboard Food Pantry, Polo Masonic Lodge #232 or the American Legion Post #557 in Polo.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Stith Family Funeral Home in Polo. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.stithfamilyfunerals.com.
