Christl Maria Sprunk's Obituary
Christl Maria Sprunk, 85, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2024 at Adventist Healthcare Medical Center, Calverton, Maryland surrounded by her loved ones after a battle with heart disease. She was born on April 26, 1939 in Schweinfurt, Germany to Maria Lukas Brueger and Otto Georg Brueger. She was the fourth of seven children who all grew up in Germany during World War II. It was a difficult time for the family during childhood coping with numerous bombing raids as Schweinfurt was an industrial city supporting the war effort. All the children had to scavenge and work when possible to support the family while their dad was away as a soldier.
In 1957, at the age of 17, Christl decided to join her sister Luise who had already immigrated to the US, landing in Detroit, MI a few years earlier. Not knowing more than a few words of English, Christl was introduced and embraced by a small community of other German immigrants, socialized with new friends, and worked as a housekeeper. It was in Detroit, Michigan where Christl was introduced to Herbert Fritz Sprunk and he became her husband on April 4, 1959.
Christl’s hobbies and enjoyments included spending time with all of her children and grandchildren, camping, gardening, and crafts. She was very active as a homemaker and skilled in crafting quilts, blankets, baby clothes, ornaments, stockings, and bags just to name a few. Many of her creations can be found throughout the world as they have been given to young families, people in need, and the military. She also enjoyed cooking German style family recipes such as rouladen, cabbage rolls, schnitzel, and baking cookies, poppyseed cake, and pecan nut roll.
When Herbert retired in 2000, she and her husband built a new home in Savannah Lakes Village, South Carolina. They enjoyed many years in their new location establishing new friendships and continuing with the hobbies so enjoyed. Christl and Herbert were active members of the Lutheran Church by the Lake. In 2018, Christl and Herbert came to visit their son Erwin and family and decided not to return to South Carolina as their health was declining. Christl continued to spend several wonderful years living in Maryland actively participating with a craft and sewing group at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Christl is survived by her sisters Luise Schaffarzek from Michigan, Liselotte Gasser and Waltraud Stephan (both in Germany), her brother Franz Brueger from Michigan, four children, Erwin Otto Sprunk (Joanne), Helga Johanna Crandall (Ted), Norbert Sprunk (Caren), and Doris Shaw (Richard), 9 grandchildren, 5 step grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 8 step great grandchildren.
Christl is preceded in death by (father) Otto Brueger, (mother) Maria Brueger, (husband) Herbert Sprunk, (sister) Anna Hennlich, and (brother) Peter Brueger.
Christl will be taken to South Carolina where her ashes will be returned to this earth as per her wishes. The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close family members present.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org), the Heart Foundation (https://theheartfoundation.org/ ), or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ASPCA (https://secure.aspca.org/). Condolences can be sent to 3509 Deer Pass Lane, Gambrills, Maryland 21054.
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