R. Norma Sprague

R. Norma Sprague, 98, of Albia, formerly of Grundy Center, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021 at the Monroe County Hospitals and Clinics in Albia. Memorial Visitation for Norma will be held on Thursday, January 21st from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Abels Funeral & Cremation Service-Engelkes Chapel in Grundy Center. The Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 22nd at 10:30 AM at the Engelkes Chapel. Inurnment will follow the service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to the Kling Memorial Library in Grundy Center and the United Methodist Church of Grundy Center. Memories of Norma and messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Norma was born on May 20, 1922, in Forfar, Scotland, to her parents Norman & Margaret (Reed) Bruce. She grew up with her family in Forfar, and on January 11, 1947, Norma was united in marriage to Robert Sprague. The couple then relocated to Robert’s hometown of Grundy Center, Iowa and arrived overseas on the Queen Mary. The family lived in Grundy Center their entire married lives.

For several years, Norma worked at the Spokesman Press in Grundy Center, and then stayed home to care for her children. In her later years, she worked at the Junior High as the school secretary, in which she retired from. Several years ago, Norma relocated to Albia, to be closer to her son and his family, who were able to be close with her, and care for her.

Norma enjoyed all things crafts; she especially enjoyed knitting. She was also an avid reader, enjoyed traveling and loved to play Bridge, where she belonged to several clubs. In addition to Bridge, she also enjoyed playing Duplicate. Norma also had a ‘sweetooth”; her favorite dessert was a good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie, but she also just plain old loved candy! She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Grundy Center and the Scottish Heritage Society.

She is survived by her children Roberta (Richard) Casey of Clear Lake, IA and Bruce (Rose) Sprague of Melrose, IA; grandchildren Meg (Drew) Casey Payne of Clear Lake, Bruce R. Sprague of Melrose and Christi Sprague of Albia; great-grandchildren Liam & Jase Sprague and Kaitlyn & Caylee Sprague; Sisters-in-law Isabel Bruce and Jean Bruce, both of Forfar, Scotland. She rejoins in Heaven her parents; husband Robert; siblings Margaret Bremner, James Bruce, Betty Black, Stanley Bruce, William Bruce, Helen Carmichael and infant sister Violet; sister-in-law Gladys (Carl) Conradi and Brother-in-law Ralph (Irene) Sprague.