Lisa Marie Sparks

Lisa Marie Sparks of Quincy, age 34, formerly of Fowler, beloved daughter of Sherry and Gary Sparks, joined the Lord on March 4, 2024, after a courageous two-year battle with a brain tumor.

Friends and Family are invited to Lisa’s Life Celebration at a visitation that will be Thursday, March 7, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at O’Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home in Quincy, IL.

A Funeral Ceremony will be at 9:00 am Friday, March 8, 2024, at the O’Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home in Quincy. Rev. Dixie Croxton will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy, IL.

Lisa Marie was cherished by her family and friends, who adored her love for music and her ability to memorize and sing countless songs for her audience, including her doctors and medical staff. She found joy in her time spent at Transitions, where she also worked in the laundry. Lisa was a dedicated participant in Special Olympics, excelling in bowling, basketball, soccer, and park events, and even competing at several state competitions. She eagerly anticipated events like The Crossing No Limits Events, Special Needs Bingo, dances, and Camp Callahan. Lisa especially treasured the No Limits Prom, summer park district dances, and the Adams County Fair, where she had the unforgettable opportunity to meet Jodi Messina in 2023. Additionally, Lisa was granted a QMG Moments that Matter trip to visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland in the fall of 2023, fulfilling her lifelong dream of visiting the home of the legendary musician. As a special note, Lisa was named after Elvis’ daughter, making her visit to Graceland even more meaningful.

For a decade, Lisa was an active member of the Quinsippi 4-H Club, where she earned over a hundred ribbons for her projects. She won numerous awards in child beauty competitions. She attended Quincy Public Schools and was deeply involved in her church communities at Hope Lutheran Church and St. Paul United Church of Christ, where she expressed her affection for friends with a heartfelt “I love you”. Lisa enjoyed traveling and gatherings, especially enjoying family vacations to Florida. Her favorite destination was Universal Studios, where she delighted in rides like The Mummy and Twister, and proudly earned the title of a two-time Universal Fear Factor Food Champ. In her downtime, Lisa found joy in watching humorous shows such as America’s Funniest Home Videos, wrestling, and Family Feud. She also cherished dining out and spending quality time with her beloved family pets.

She is survived by her Mom and Dad and her special love, Charles Strieker, of Quincy. She is also survived by her grandmother, Revilla Hinton of Tell City, Indiana; her aunts and uncles: Robert Hinton (Betty) of Tell City; Debra Bailey (Wayne) of Krypton, Kentucky; Cindy Crowley (Tony) of Leavenworth, Indiana; Rita Sparks of Quincy; and Connie Sparks of Quincy. She had a special lifelong relationship with her Aunt Judi Mohrman and her husband Jack, along with her special friends Bob Mehl and Bob and Penny Mussolino.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Kenneth and Phyllis Sparks, Uncles Ron and David Sparks, Aunt Cheryl Lummer of Quincy, her grandfather Robert W. Hinton Sr., and Uncle Jeff Hinton of Tell City, Indiana.
The family requests that memorials be made in lieu of flowers to Transitions of Western Illinois, Special Olympics, The Crossing No Limits program, Hope Church, or St. Paul United Church of Christ.

Her family would also like to thank her medical teams and all those who sent cards and gifts and visited with Lisa throughout her illness, which meant the world to her.

Online condolences may be shared and video tribute may be viewed at www.ODonnellCookson.com.