Lovice Marie Sprugel

         Lovice Marie Sprugel passed peacefully in her sleep on November 20, 2023, at Pleasant Valley Manor Care Center.  Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm, followed by a service celebrating Lovice’s life at 2:00 pm, on Saturday, November 25, at Liberty United Methodist Church, Liberty, Missouri. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery.        

               Lovice has entered the house of the Lord to be with her beloved husband, John Edward Sprugel, son, Mark John Sprugel, parents, Francis and Kathinca Kingsbury, and brother and his wife, Francis and Vernice Kingsbury.

         Born Lovice Marie Kingsbury on April 19, 1926, in Sioux City, Iowa, she spent her childhood and school years in Ponca, Nebraska, with her parents and brother, where family and friends provided many happy childhood memories.  She graduated from Ponca High School during World War II in 1943, when gas rationing and food rationing curtailed any travel, and everyone had a victory garden.  She attended Morningside College, in Sioux City, the alma mater of her parents and brother, from 1943 to 1947.  Lovice’s college years included editing the college yearbook, playing flute in the college band and the Sioux City Symphony, and living in the women’s dorm with ladies who became lifelong friends.  She graduated from Morningside in 1947 with a B.A. in Education, and taught high school in Harlan, Iowa, for two years.  A teachers’ agency in Denver provided her with the opportunity to “Go West” to teach in Winslow, Arizona for two years, and then four years in Chandler, Arizona, from 1951 to 1955.  During this “adventure to the West”, Lovice traveled throughout the western states, and made many lifelong friends.

         In 1955, Lovice married John Edward Sprugel, a graduate of Iowa State University, and a teacher in Iowa.  They lived and taught in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where two of their children were born, Mark in 1959, and Lynne in 1961. Lovice taught during this time and played flute in the Omaha Symphony.  John left the teaching field in 1961 to work for Farmland Industries, and eventually the family moved to Liberty and Kansas City in 1962, near Farmland headquarters, where John was employed for 28 years.   Within six months of their move, Lovice and John suffered the tragic loss of their 4-year-old son, Mark, in 1963. Their son John was born in 1965, and both Lynne and John attended Liberty Public schools, graduating from Liberty High School.

         During her teaching days in Arizona, Lovice attended Arizona State University, and graduated with an M.A. degree in Education in 1953.  She has maintained many friendships from college and teaching days for over 50 years. She is one of ten friends from Morningside College, scattered across the U.S., that have shared a “round robin” letter for more than 30 years. After her husband’s retirement in 1987, Lovice and John traveled extensively to several countries in Europe, Great Britain, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, and have attended over 20 Elderhostels in various locations throughout the United States.  Lovice’s most fascinating and inspirational venture of all was a trip to the Holy Land in 2000. 

         Lovice was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Nebraska, Iowa, Arizona, and Missouri. She sang in church choirs in each of these locations, including over 30 years at Liberty United Methodist Church. She served on many committees in the church, chaired the Memorial Committee, taught Sunday School, directed Vacation Bible School when her children were young, and was an active member of Spice of Life Fellowship. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother when her son was in Scouts. She was a lover of music, both choral and instrumental, was a supporter of the Liberty Symphony and LUMC Worship Through the Arts concerts.  Lovice was an avid reader and volunteered for many years in the elementary schools in Liberty—Doniphan, Ridgeview, and Warren Hills. She enjoyed working with young children, especially her two grandsons. Lovice was a devoted member of the PEO Sisterhood for 76 years, and had been a member of Chapter DT, PEO since 1963.  Her pet project in PEO was the International Peace Scholarship fund, which brought foreign students from all over the world to study in American colleges and universities. She established a personal relationship for her chapter with these girls, who were Designated Scholars of Chapter DT, from Thailand, Norway, Ghana, Korea, and Nepal.

Lovice was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family, friends, and faith were her treasures. Lovice is survived by her daughter, Lynne, of Katy, Texas; her son John, his wife Karen, and two grandsons, Ryan and Drew, of Liberty; and many nieces and nephews in NE, WI, OH, IA, AR, FL, TX, AZ, and WA.   

               Memorials may be given to the Liberty United Methodist Church Music Department, 1001 Sunset Avenue, Liberty, Missouri 64068.

               You may share a message with Lovice’s family or sign an online guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com.  Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel 816-781-8228.