Marvin Wayne Sprenkel was born on a farm west of Quinter on February 14, 1922, to Emmert and June (Winkler) Sprenkel. He was baptized in the Church of the Brethern as an infant. He started school in the new Quinter Grade School where he met his future wife, Willetta Blickenstaff, in the first grade. They continued through school together, graduating from the new high school in 1940.
Upon graduation, he was offered basketball scholarships at both K-State and Kansas University, but he turned both down because he didn’t want to let Willetta get away. They were married on February 7, 1942. He left for the Army later that fall where he served in World War II for almost three years.
When he returned to Quinter, he bought a store which became known as Sprenkel Home and Auto. It remained a cornerstone of the business district for many years to come. During these years, Marvin was active in many aspects of the Quinter community, most especially the Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for many years. He retired in 1984 and enjoyed owning some farmland which gave him much pleasure as he followed the various crops.
Marvin was proud of Quinter and worked hard to make sure it would not only survive, but that it would grow. He was instrumental in building the community pool, in expanding the hospital, and in building the nursing home and its attached apartments. He was also instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the Quinter School District. He believed strongly in education and that having good schools was at the heart of having a community that would stand the test of time.
But more than all of this, Marvin loved his wife Willetta and the 72 years they spent together. Although his grandchildren lived on the East Coast, he loved the time they spent together. He was preceded in death by his daughter Libby in 1964. He is survived by his wife Willetta, his daughter Kathy, three grandchildren– Mindy, David, and Susan and their spouses… Andy, Katey, and Jon. He also has five great-grandchildren: Daisy, Torin, Lila, Addison, and Reilly Marvin– his namesake.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 25, 2014, at United Methodist Church of Quinter. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.
Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to service time Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Quinter Unified School District 293 for support of its library and technology needs/and support of its basketball program or to the Quinter Methodist Church. Checks made out to the above organizations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
Words of support and sympathy may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.