Robert Sprouls

Robert (Bob) John Sprouls was born on January 20, 1956, in Oceanside, CA and died April 19, 2017, at his home in Aurora, CO. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and his children, Matt (Amanda) Sprouls of Owensboro, KY, Jennifer (Earl) Modesto of Poplar Grove, IL, Lisa (Mike) Davis of Cumberland, KY and Kyle Sprouls of Denver, CO. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Noah, Hannah, Levi Sprouls, Lexi Modesto, Benjamin, Christopher, and Lillian Davis. Also surviving are sisters Jacky (Wayne) Gallagher, Myrna (Norman) Cade, and Connie Acton, and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shari Hendrickson Sprouls, his parents, Robert and Grace Sprouls, and siblings, Robert Leroy Sprouls, Patty Peel, Marjorie Sandusky and Kathy Sprouls.

Bob grew up in Danville, IL, the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Danville High School, in 1974.

From an early age Bob knew he wanted to work in the news media. During his high school years he worked for the local newspaper. While on the way to cover a sporting event, he was in the vicinity of a tornado and took an outstanding picture. He won the first of many subsequent news photography awards for the picture of the tornado.

During Bob's senior year at Butler University, he was offered a job at a Nashville TV news station. Although he never graduated from Butler, he continued to be a fan of the Butler Bulldogs basketball team.

Bob married Shari Hendrickson and they were blessed with four children, Matt, Jennifer, Lisa and Kyle. After one year in Nashville, Bob worked as a news photographer at WRTV, in Indianapolis, for
15 years. For 5 of those years, Bob served as the chairman for the National Press Photographers annual TV contest.

After 16 years as a news photographer, Bob took a position with Avid Technology, and later, Grass Valley, where he served as a trainer for new technology, mainly at TV stations. He was able to travel to stations around the world, where he made many friends. One of his training sites was at the White House for President Clinton's communications agency. The plaque he received hangs proudly…in the basement.

After nearly 28 years of marriage, Bob's wife, Shari passed away. Later, he married Rhonda Marston and moved to Colorado. Following several more years of technology training, he decided it was time to get a job that involved less travel. For the last several years he has been working at NBC Universal in Centennial, CO.

Bob will be remembered as a kind and caring Christian man who would do anything he could to help others. He was a member of the Bear Valley church of Christ. His family and friends will miss him, but we know he has a home in heaven.