Duane Sporrer, 97, of Carroll passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at St. Lawrence Church, St. John Paul II Parish, in Carroll. The Celebrant is Father Parick Behm. Music is by Jane Heithoff and Louis Meyers. Mass servers will be Hazel Clausen and Hayden Krieger. The Lector is Carin Sporrer. Gift Bearers will be Tatum Knowles and Pyper Handlos. Eucharistic Ministers are Kim Vandendreissche and Terri Heisterkamp. Casket Bearers will be Eric Reinhart, Nick Lengeling, Jaime Steinkamp, Brian Sporrer, Adam Reed, Taylor Sporrer, Anthony Bellizzi, Matt Lengeling, Ben Steinkamp, Jason Reed, Ryan Reed and Christopher Bellizzi. Burial is in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Military Honors will be conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the
Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Additional visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Duane’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Duane Norman Sporrer was born on April 18, 1928, to William and Elsie (Joens) Sporrer in Templeton, Iowa. Duane’s family moved to Carroll in 1936, where he helped his family with Sporrer’s Dairy. Duane fondly remembered milking cows in the early morning hours, evening hours, and delivering milk after school. After graduating from Carroll High School in 1945, Duane worked in masonry and construction at Boje Construction and Gambles.
Duane married the love of his life, Vera, on September 30, 1950. They treasured and adored each other for 75 years of marriage.
In early 1951, Duane was drafted into the Army for the Korean War. Duane and Vera moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was stationed. Duane was discharged after two years and then began barber school in Des Moines, while also working at The Foundry. Duane began his barbering career in Bayard. In 1955, they returned to Carroll when he started barbering with Joe Wittry. Duane barbered until July 12, 2025. He never wanted to retire. He valued his loyal customers, because they were also his friends. He listened and learned from everyone that came into his shop.
Duane designed the plans for a new family house in Carroll and built it with the help of his father and brother, Don, in 1960. He built a house, but gave us our home.
Duane loved the stock market. For years, he would leave the barber shop every Friday night to get his standing reservation at the library for the entire week of The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s newspapers. Duane was an avid reader of non-fiction only. Since October 2020, he has read 299 books through the Carroll Library.
Duane loved artwork from an early age. He made wood airplanes, took art lessons, sketched portraits, painted, and whittled wood. Duane’s love of woodworking came from his love of nature. He found beauty in every plant and tree and in the grain of each piece of wood. His projects began by felling the trees, milling the logs, drying the wood and creating lasting pieces for generations.
Duane loved scenery, mainly the mountains. He especially liked to take the roads that were less traveled and basically unmaintained to get the best view of the surrounding landscape. He loved all animals to the point where his squirrels trusted him enough to eat out of the palm of his hand.
Duane was a faithful parishioner of St. Lawrence Church. Duane and Vera gave all their children a Catholic education from St. Lawrence and Kuemper High School.
Duane’s family was everything to him. He adored and respected his mother and father, and he valued his brothers. His life was an example for his children, especially by leading with his love for our mother. He inspired his grandchildren through his character. He had a way about him that the little ones were drawn to him and the older ones looked up to him. Duane spoke gently, listened intently and loved quietly. Duane and Vera’s love have touched the lives of many.
This well-loved man will be greatly missed by his wife of 75 years, Vera; children: Rhonda (Don, deceased) Reinhart; Vicky (Ron) Lengeling; Jim (Jaynie) Sporrer; Roxane (Bill) Reed; Lisa (Rich) Schenkelberg; and Jodi (Tony) Bellizzi; 24 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 2 step great-grandchildren; brother Larry Sporrer; brother and sisters-in-law Kay Heisterkamp, Judy (Tex) Adams, Shirly Fleskes; and many nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his daughter, Renee Steinkamp; parents, William and Elsie Sporrer, father and mother-in-law Ed and Anna Fleskes; brother Don (Penny) Sporrer; sons-in-law Mark Steinkamp and Don Reinhart; sisters and brothers-in-law Annette (Bob) Oswald, Pat (Tex) Sturm, Jack Fleskes, and Butch Heisterkamp.
