Carol Gladys (Bretthorst) Sprick

Carol G. Sprick, 88, of Boonville, MO passed away on October 30, 2024, at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles.

Visitation for Carol will be Friday, November 8th at Howard Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Boonville, MO.  Funeral services will be Saturday, November 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in New Franklin, where Carol was a lifelong member.  Graveside ceremony immediately following the funeral service at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in New Franklin.

Carol was born on July 3, 1936, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Albert Henry Bretthorst and Edna Hulda Schlapper.  Carol lived in St. Louis until kindergarten and then moved to Decatur, IL where Albert worked at the Caterpillar plant during World War II. During their time in Decatur, Carol started loving music in school and expressed a desire to learn the piano. Much to the thrill of her father and her teacher, Carol’s love of the piano continued her entire life.  It was eight years after Carol’s birth that her brother, Kenneth Albert Bretthorst was born.

After the war, the family moved to New Franklin to be close to relatives.  It was there, where she graduated Salutatorian of her class and met Curtis Sprick. In 1953, Curtis was drafted in the army and was sent to Germany for eighteen months.  Upon his return, Carol married her high school sweetheart and her lifetime love on June 11, 1955. Curtis and Carol were married sixty-eight years. Their first home was in a one room home on Maple Street in Boonville, but soon moved upstairs to Dr. Moser’s dental business in New Franklin where their first child Darrell Lee Sprick was born. An apartment soon became too small so her father, a builder and contractor, built them a home on Santa Fe Trail, in Boonville where their second child was born, Sherri Renee Sprick. Their children were eight years apart in age, exactly like Carol and her brother had been.

Carol started her career as the secretary to the President at Geiger Gas in Boonville before her second child was born.  She returned to work in 1971 as the administrative assistant to the President of the Boonville Daily News. While working there, she received the Secretary of the Year Award in 1981.  After eighteen years, she retired to follow her passion of music and teach piano lessons to nearly twenty-five students for another six years.

Carol was very active in the community as well as her church.   She was twelve years old when she became the church organist for the United Church of Christ in New Franklin and continued to serve in that position for forty-six years.  She directed the Adult Choir, Junior Choir and Children’s Choir and was an active member of the Women’s Fellowship for thirty-five years.  In addition, she also served as the piano accompanist to the Boonville Community Theatre during the summer musicals when Curtis also performed on stage.  Carol was also very active in the Red Hat Society in Boonville along with many of her lifelong friends.

Carol enjoyed collecting Hallmark ornaments over the years.  She has even purchased her ornaments for this upcoming Christmas.   In addition, Carol never missed an opportunity to send a Hallmark card for a birthday, anniversary, or special holiday celebration.  

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis John Sprick, her brother Kenneth Bretthorst and wife Susan, and her parents, Albert and Edna Bretthorst.  She is survived by her two children, son Darrell (Leslie) Sprick of Mooresville, NC and daughter Sherri (Jim) Tichenor of Chesterfield, MO.  She is survived by six grandchildren, Leanne Sprick, Lindsay DeVine, Daniel Sprick, Allison Tichenor, Abigail Tichenor and Amanda Tichenor, as well as two great-grandchildren, London and River Sides.  Carol is also survived by two sister-in-laws, June (Bill) Peterson of St. Charles, MO and Bonnie (Hubie) Molitor of O’Fallon, MO, along with several nieces and nephews.  

Memorial contributions can be made to the Immanuel United Church of Christ in New Franklin, MO.  

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