Gene Sprouls

Gene Sprouls, 88, went to be with his heavenly father on November 18, 2025. He was beloved by his family and friends.

He was born in Danville, Illinois on January 26, 1937, to Audrey and Maude (Harris) Sprouls, a half-hour after his twin brother Jerry. A lifelong resident of the Georgetown-Ridge Farm area, he graduated from Georgetown High School in 1955 where he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Jean Alice (Finley) Sprouls in May 1956. She precedes him in death, along with his daughter Teresa Land and parents. He is also preceded by wife Phyllis Miller, whom he married in 2015.

Gene worked at Hyster for 36 years, finishing his career as a welder in the specialty fabrication department. He was known for his attention to detail and craftsmanship and retired in 1999. An avid fisherman, the entire family looked forward to Gene’s fish fry dinners, where he cooked and shared his crappie catch from the year, a meal that also included his homemade ice cream for dessert. During retirement he was a woodworker, making ornaments, furniture and shelves, which he sold at craft shows with his daughters in their joint craft business All in the Family.

A man of few words, but deep faith, Gene attended the Ridge Farm Friends Meeting where he was an active member. He enjoyed reading crime novels, working in his yard, and most of all, spending time with family.

He is survived by daughters Shari (Terry Mills) Hutson of Georgetown and Gina (Randy) Buhrmester of Milford; stepdaughter Beth Haven of Blytheville, AR and stepson Larry (Missi) Grider of Georgetown; twin brother Jerry Sprouls of Georgetown; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is additionally preceded in death by sons-in-law Norman Land and Bill Hutson, and stepdaughter Ronna Snapp.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29 at Sunset Funeral Home’s Houghton-Leasure Chapel, located at 200 E. East Street in Georgetown, Illinois. A memorial service celebrating his life will begin at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial at Forest Park Cemetery in Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ridge Farm Friends Food Pantry, P.O. Box 209, Ridge Farm, IL, 61870.