ROCKLAND – Ivan A. Sprague, 67, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, surrounded by his family following a year-long battle with cancer.

Born in Rockland Nov. 17, 1944, he was the son of James E. and Elizabeth Gray Sprague. He attended local schools and was a 1963 graduate of Rockland High School.

On Nov. 17, 1965, he married Elane M. Curtis in Rockland. The Spragues have made their home in Rockland since that time.

While in high school, Ivan worked at North Lubec Canning Company, and later with F. J. O’Hara & Son Seafood. For more than 17 years, he worked at Marine Colloids in Rockland.  

After learning the butchering trade from his father-in-law, Harvey Curtis, for many years Ivan provided that service locally. For more than 25 years, he worked as a custodian with School Administrative District No. 5, now known as RSU 13. 

Ivan greatly enjoyed interaction with the staff and students in the schools where he worked.  He lovingly referred to all “his kids” at those schools by the name "Bub,"in an effort not to show partiality to anyone. 

He was a lifetime member of the Rockland Lodge of Elks No. 1008, where he enjoyed participating in the Men’s Horseshoe League.  He was also an active member of the Rockland Congregational Church.

Ivan loved the outdoors, being with his family and grandchildren, moose hunting, ice fishing, playing horseshoes and BEANO, and buying scratch-off lottery tickets.

Other than his parents, Ivan was pre-deceased by his siblings; his father and mother-in-law, Harvey and Connie Curtis; one grandson, Timothy M. Morse; and his brother-in-law, Charles R. Godfrey.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Elane of Rockland; two daughters and their husbands, Holly and Tim Morse of Thomaston and Heidi and David Smith of Waldoboro; his sister-in-law, Donna Godfrey of Thomaston, with whom he had a wonderful relationship; four grandchildren, Matthew Morse, Noah Morse, Ben Smith and Hannah Smith; one great-grandchild, Kaiden Smith; as well as his nieces, Jamie Fullerton and her companion, Dennis Camber, of South Thomaston and Ali Godfrey of Owls Head.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A Celebration of Ivan’s life, will be held Thursday, Sept. 20, at 1:00 p.m. at Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St. in Rockland. The Rev. Seth D. Jones will officiate. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Section of Village Cemetery on Dwight Street in Thomaston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gary’s House, 97 State St., Portland, ME 04101, or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 477 Congress St., Suite M1, Portland, ME 04101.

To share a memory or story with Ivan’s family, please visit his online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.