CLEAR LAKE - Charles W. "Charlie" Spratt, 62, of 104 S. 18th St., Clear Lake, died Monday (Aug. 21, 2000) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Zion Lutheran Church, 112 No. Fourth St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. Burial will be at Clear Lake Cemetery.
Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St. and also for one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.
Charles was born on April 2, 1938, in Prairie City, the son of Jacob E. Sr. and E. Frankie (Broyles) Spratt. The family moved to Clear Lake when Charlie was three years old. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, becoming a member of Zion Lutheran Church after his marriage.
Charlie graduated from Clear Lake High School on May 25, 1958 and entered the United States Navy on May 29th of the same year. He served as an air traffic controller until his Honorable Discharge on May 28, 1962.
Charles returned to Clear Lake and worked as a bus driver for the Clear Lake Schools and at Sherman Roofing. In October 1965, he became a route driver for United Parcel Service, where he was employed until his retirement in October 1995. He was known to many as "Charlie UPS".
Charles was united in marriage to Karen Siskow on October 16, 1970 at Richland Lutheran Church in Thornton. They have lived in Clear Lake since their marriage. Charlie had a passion for golf from the time he was a caddie at All Vets Golf Course in Clear Lake until he later began playing the game himself. His regular Thursday golf team was "Charlie's Chargers".
He was also known for the turkey he grilled every Fourth of July and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Minnesota Vikings fan. Charlie especially enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, All Vets Golf Course, and the Teamsters Local 828.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Karen, of Clear Lake; three children, Kendra Burkinshaw, of Roselle, Ill., Steven Spratt and his wife, Tricia, of Grimes, and Michael Spratt, a senior at the University of Iowa; one granddaughter, Alyssa Sprau of Roselle, Ill.; one sister, Judy Spratt, of Clear Lake; and two brothers, Jacob Spratt Jr. of Dallas, Texas and James Spratt, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Donald Spratt; one grandson, Ian William Burkinshaw; his parents-in-law, William and Wilma Siskow; one sister-in-law, Wanda Siskow; and an infant daughter, Shannon.
