Duane Arthur Sprinkle, 85, of Galesburg, died at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023 at home surrounded by his family.
He was born June 2, 1937 in Galesburg, the son of John and Florence (Sandburg) Sprinkle. Duane was reared and educated in Galesburg, graduating from high school in 1956. He then proudly served in the US Navy as a Gunner’s Mate onboard the USS Princeton and the USS Oriskany with his younger brother Delbert from 1957 to 1961. Duane married Delores J. Warren in Galesburg on June 1, 1960 and together they raised their three sons. He later married Shirley A. Wall in Galesburg on October 4, 1991. She preceded him in death on August 24, 2020. Duane worked as a machinist at OMC Gale Products for 24 years. He then worked as a forklift operator at National Seal Co. for about 15 years until they closed. Duane lastly worked as a security guard for Securitas for about 6 years.
Left to cherish his memory are three sons: Steve Sprinkle, Brian Sprinkle, and Daniel Sprinkle, all of Galesburg; eleven grandchildren: Jessica Kemp, Ashley and Brianna Sprinkle, Candice, Megan, and Cheyenne Sosa, Aric and Jake Sprinkle, Tommy and Harmony Hatfield, and Miranda Green; and fifteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Dale Sprinkle of Butlerville, Indiana, and Larry (Kathie) Sprinkle of Hurst, Texas; one sister, Phyllis Anderson of Phoenix, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley Sprinkle; and two brothers, Gerald “Jerry” Sprinkle and Delbert Sprinkle.
Duane’s all-time favorite outdoor activity was fishing, preferably catfishing anywhere on the Spoon River. In his free time, he enjoyed mushroom and squirrel hunting. Duane also liked camping and going on vacations. He traveled sometimes with his family or to visit family at various locations such as Virginia Beach, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Duane also enjoyed going to casinos, playing poker, cribbage, or pitch with his brothers and sons, doing puzzles, and going for coffee every Sunday morning with his friends to play Skip-Bo. He loved family gatherings and spending time with his family. Duane will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory in Galesburg. A funeral service will follow immediately at the funeral home. Pastor Darrell Grimm will officiate. Cremation will follow the services. Graveside services with military rites will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Galesburg. Memorials may be made to the family in care of Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
