Laura "Lou" Sparkman, 92, of South Hutchinson, beloved wife, mom and teacher, died April 14, 2017, of natural causes at the Mennonite Friendship Community in South Hutchinson.

Lou was born in 1924 in Emporia, to Alexander H. and Addaline (Lillibridge) Daum. Lou first taught in 1943 at a country school near Madison, Kansas, when she was 19 years old. She married Henry Lee Polansky a year later. When she lost her husband in the war, she returned to Emporia where she would get degrees from the Emporia State Teacher's College.

She moved to Hutchinson in 1950 to teach at Morgan School and taught Kindergarten. In 1953, she left Hutchinson to become Mrs. Carl Sparkman and the mother of Carl's two sons, Dean and Gene. She became a wonderful mother while continuing to teach for nine years at Eisenhower, Jefferson and Washington schools in Great Bend.

In addition to the many generations that Lou taught and influenced as a teacher, she will be remembered for her unconditional love to her family, her loyal friendship, her kindness and her terrific sense of humor.

Lou is survived by: her stepson, Dean Sparkman and wife Janet of Minneapolis, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Sharon Sparkman; grandchildren, Gretchen, Ed, Nettie and Elliott; and two great-grandchildren, Heidi and Aine.

Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Pastor Matt Stafford officiating. Family will greet friends Friday, April 21, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. prior to the funeral. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, in the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. Friends may call 9 to 9 Thursday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to Mennonite Friendship Communities, c/o Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.