Steven F. Sprague

Steven F. Sprague, age 75 of Josephine, Texas, passed away on November 15, 2017 at Roberts Hospital, Dallas. His wife Shirley was by his side as she had been for the last 54 years. He is now at rest with our Heavenly Father!

Steve was born in Madelia, Minnesota on November 12, 1942 to John M. Sprague, Jr. and Francis (Rucker) Sprague. Steve’s family moved from Madelia to Grand Junction, Colorado when he was nine. This is where he met his future wife Shirley in high school in 1959. Steve graduated high school in 1960 at which time he enlisted in the Navy.

After his basic training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California, he attended Hospital Corps School at San Diego and Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California. He was then assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in December 1961. This led to a 30-year career and many moves for him and his family, along with many accomplishments. Three of his major accomplishment were; he and Shirley were married on May 29th, 1963 at the American Lutheran Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. They welcomed their son, Steven Bradley on February 11, 1964 and their daughter Shelly Renee on December 28, 1966.

In his career with the Navy he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, (where Brad was born) at which time he reenlisted for another six years under the STAR program so he could eventually attend the X-Ray Technical School in Oakland, California and when he graduated from that program he was transferred to the Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, California, (where Shelly was born).

His next assignment was in October 1967 at the Independent Duty School, San Diego, California.

Steve’s next assignment in February 1968 was to Mine Force Pacific, Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Squadron 13. And while serving with MIUWS-13, he served aboard costal mine sweepers Woodpecker and Whippoorwill. At this time, he was also deployed with the MIUWS-13 detachment to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam where he was assigned for duty with C Company, 1st Medical Battalion. This of course was one of the assignments when Shirley and the kids did not join Steve!

March 1971, Steve’s next transfer was to Naval Recruiting Station in Denver, Colorado to attend Bio-Med Repair School.

After graduation he was then assigned to Naval Hospital in Long Beach, California where he was the branch head of the Medical Repair Shop.

October of 1975, Steve was transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan as the CPOIC of Medical Repair under the Directorate of Maintenance. This was another assignment which Shirley and the kids did not join him.

March 1977, Steve reported for his next assignment at the Defense Depot in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania as the CPOIC of Medical Repair under the Directorate of Maintenance.

His next assignment would come in September 1980 at Naval Unit Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado as the enlisted director of the Biomedical Equipment Repair School. While he was there he qualified as a Master Training Specialist.

In December of 1984 Steve reported to his last duty station with the 3rd FSSG and in June 1985 he was reassigned as the Command Master Chief for III MEF and 3rd Marine Division, Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan unit his retirement on August 1, 1990. Shirley and Shelly did get to join Steve for this assignment. Brad however was starting his own adventure.

Steve’s service awards included the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.

After his proud service he retired on August 1, 1990 as a Master Chief at which time he and Shirley moved to the house they had built in Peoria, Arizona. During this time, they lost their daughter Shelly on October 29, 1991. In 1997 they bought a 40-foot Motor home and started traveling part time. Soon Shirley found that she enjoyed this more than she thought she would, so they sold their house in 2001 and started traveling full time. Until 2007 when they built their house in Josephine, Texas.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents and daughter Shelly.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shirley, their son Steven (Brad), his wife Judy. Their grandchildren Brittany and Brandon, Brandon’s wife Jessica and his great-grandchildren Baylee, Logan and Kytalynn. His brothers Doug, Eugene, Dick and Greg.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on December 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 821 So. Greenville, Allen, Texas. This has been Steve and Shirley church family since they moved to Texas in 2007 to be closer to their son and his family. Steve was a firm believer in the Lord and life ever after.