Gordon E. Sprangers

Gordon Sprangers, age 88, was invited home by Our Lord on December 18, with his family at his side. Gordy was born November 27, 1936, to the late Ed and Evelyn (Luniak) Sprangers in Appleton.

In November of 1957, Dad married the love of his life, the late Yvonne (Coenen) Sprangers.  Together they enjoyed raising our family and giving us kids a most awesome childhood.  Dad’s optimism and sense of humor were contagious. Anyone who knew Dad knew that you could feel his positive energy by just being around him or chatting with him on the phone.  If we would show up on a job site, we would hear Dad singing a country song with his own made-up lyrics. He had an incredibly sharp mind his entire life all the way until leaving us.  During his career as a self-employed builder in a partnership with Dave Buchinger, he built so many beautiful homes and did the math in his head or by sketching on a piece of lumber.  He continued to learn and to keep up with technology and with the changes in the world around us throughout his entire life.  

Dad had a gentle soul.  He taught us to work hard and that nothing is more important than family. Even after so many long hours of working outside during all seasons, he always had time for Mom and for us kids.  He brought us camping every single weekend every summer; and often-times, on weekday evenings he would bring us to Grandpa’s cottage on Lake Winnebago to water ski.  In his later years, he loved his grandchildren and adored his great-grandchildren.

He and mom did a lot of laughing when playing cards with their friends and relatives over the years.  They enjoyed being camp hosts at Door County Peninsula State Park every summer for over 20 years and enjoyed Florida in the winter. They would put miles and miles on their pedal bikes every year.  They had many dear friends along the way, while raising their family and while staying in Door County and in Florida.

We love you, Dad!  You will be dearly missed!

Survivors include his four children: two sons: Dan (Barb) Sprangers, Bruce (Kathleen) Sprangers; two daughters: Sara (Jeff) Kaufman, Cindy (Ken) DeValk; nine grandchildren: Shelly Sprangers (Lucas) Vold, Tom (Dan) Sprangers, Brad (Mackenzie) Sprangers, Grace Sprangers, Jordan (Alyssa) DeValk, Nathan (Mariah) DeValk, Claire Abel, Olivia Abel, Anna Abel; five great grandchildren: Teddy and Amelia Vold, Eloise and Collins DeValk, and Liam DeValk; brother, Glen (Cheri) Sprangers; sisters: Joyce Apitz, Judy (Tom) Danke; sisters-in-law: Julane (James) Feldkamp, Grace (Florian) Smits, Sue Coenen, Tes Coenen; brothers-in-law: Jim (Leslie) Coenen, Dennis (Karen) Gloudemans.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne; parents, Ed and Evelyn Sprangers; father and mother-in-law, Otto and Marie (Hooyman) Coenen; sisters: Delores Kilsdonk, LaVerne Beck, Arlene Gloudemans; brothers-in-law: Robert Kilsdonk, Robert Kauth, Delbert Beck, Fred Apitz, Jerry, Ron and LeRoy Coenen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at St. John Nepomucene, 411 Vandenbroek Steet, Little Chute. Visitation will take place at the church on Saturday from 9:00 am until the time of mass.

Our family extends our deepest appreciation and thanks to the compassionate, caring team at Ballard Glenn Assisted Living where Dad lived since July 2024, Fox Valley Surgical, and to the many nurses on the third and fifth floors at AMC who took such great care of Dad (Including Jessica Hennes – Ron & Tes’s grand-daughter)