Albert Trimble Sprague Sr.
Died
Albert Trimble Sprague, Sr.
Albert Sprague, Sr. passed away on January 16, 2020 at the age of 90. His wife of 69 years, Alberdina (Deanie), was by his side in Kent, WA. He was born in Seattle, on August 6, 1929. Al's love and devotion to Deanie and his four children was his life's passion and mission.
Al was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army. After the war, he joined the Seattle Fire Department in 1954. His leadership, compassion and care for his fellow firefighters as well as his expertise in aggressively fighting fires and saving lives propelled him to rise through the ranks during his 35-year career. He retired as Senior Deputy Chief of Operations.
A humble and modest man, Al had a saying he lived by, "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice." This trait endeared him to the firefighters he worked with during his career. He led by example and would never ask a firefighter to do anything he would not do himself. He never lost a firefighter at a fire he commanded. To his dying day, Al proudly wore a Seattle Fire Department ball cap to display pride for his profession and appreciation of the firefighters he served with and those who serve today.
Al had a natural talent for building homes. He built six homes for his family and one for each of his two daughters. He was a perfectionist in everything he built. Al believed there was only one way to build things and that was the right way. He built a RV-4 Experimental Airplane after he retired in 1989. The airplane was perfectly constructed and a masterpiece among home-built aircraft, as was anything he passionately and expertly built with his hands. His hobbies included flying, hunting, fishing and playing the piano. He built the last family home in 1978 at Crest Airport in Kent, WA and flew his Citabria airplane regularly until he reached the age of 80. Al loved the outdoors and took his family on numerous trips to Mt. Rainier. He climbed Mt. Rainier with his son Albert, Jr. in 1966.
Al is survived by his wife Deanie, sons Albert Jr. (wife Marilyn) and Byron (wife Jessica) and daughters Julia Sprague Hilsen (husband Mark) and Meryl
Reber (husband Randy). He had 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Al was preceded in passing by brother George and sister Joanne. He is survived by his stepbrother Keith Craig.
A Funeral Service is planned for Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Bonney Watson Funeral home
in SeaTac at 12:00 p.m.
16445 International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA 98188
Sign Al's online
Guest Book at www.Legacy.com
Albert Sprague, Sr. passed away on January 16, 2020 at the age of 90. His wife of 69 years, Alberdina (Deanie), was by his side in Kent, WA. He was born in Seattle, on August 6, 1929. Al's love and devotion to Deanie and his four children was his life's passion and mission.
Al was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army. After the war, he joined the Seattle Fire Department in 1954. His leadership, compassion and care for his fellow firefighters as well as his expertise in aggressively fighting fires and saving lives propelled him to rise through the ranks during his 35-year career. He retired as Senior Deputy Chief of Operations.
A humble and modest man, Al had a saying he lived by, "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice." This trait endeared him to the firefighters he worked with during his career. He led by example and would never ask a firefighter to do anything he would not do himself. He never lost a firefighter at a fire he commanded. To his dying day, Al proudly wore a Seattle Fire Department ball cap to display pride for his profession and appreciation of the firefighters he served with and those who serve today.
Al had a natural talent for building homes. He built six homes for his family and one for each of his two daughters. He was a perfectionist in everything he built. Al believed there was only one way to build things and that was the right way. He built a RV-4 Experimental Airplane after he retired in 1989. The airplane was perfectly constructed and a masterpiece among home-built aircraft, as was anything he passionately and expertly built with his hands. His hobbies included flying, hunting, fishing and playing the piano. He built the last family home in 1978 at Crest Airport in Kent, WA and flew his Citabria airplane regularly until he reached the age of 80. Al loved the outdoors and took his family on numerous trips to Mt. Rainier. He climbed Mt. Rainier with his son Albert, Jr. in 1966.
Al is survived by his wife Deanie, sons Albert Jr. (wife Marilyn) and Byron (wife Jessica) and daughters Julia Sprague Hilsen (husband Mark) and Meryl
Reber (husband Randy). He had 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Al was preceded in passing by brother George and sister Joanne. He is survived by his stepbrother Keith Craig.
A Funeral Service is planned for Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Bonney Watson Funeral home
in SeaTac at 12:00 p.m.
16445 International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA 98188
Sign Al's online
Guest Book at www.Legacy.com
Source: Seattle Times
Published on: 26-01-2020