Michael William Sproat

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Michael William Sproat, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and cousin, peacefully went home to our Heavenly Father at the age of 85.
Mike was born on January 11, 1939, in Milwaukee, WI, and was raised on a farm in Wadsworth, IL, where he enjoyed tending to the sheep and chickens and embraced the hard work of farm life.
In high school, he joined the Naval Reserves and later served in the Marine Corps from 1958 to 1961, where he was honorably discharged.
Mike was a man of many talents and interests. He had a passion for photography, capturing the beauty of the world around him. In his younger years while living in Illinois, Mike owned and operated a backhoe and dozer, taking on various projects and developing his love for working with the land. He later worked in landscaping for the state of Illinois before tapping into his entrepreneurial spirit and founding his own company, Northwest Tool, making him a two-time business owner.
In 2002, Mike met the love of his life, Valerie, and quickly introduced her to his second love—golf. Together, they enjoyed many golfing adventures throughout the Pacific Northwest before settling in Sun City West, Arizona, in 2003.
Once a resident of Sun City West, Mike became an active member of the Pebblebrook Men’s Club and worked as a starter at the Deer Valley Golf Course for 11 years, combining his passion for the sport with his love of community.
Mike lived for having family and friends over to share an amazing meal and play Mexican train or cards. Known as the “grill king” in his house, Sundays were his day of master grilling, with his baby back ribs and pork tenderloin becoming family favorites. Attending concerts in the park in Sun City West was always a special treat each fall.
Mike will be remembered for his generous smile, infectious laughter, and his appreciation for good food. He loved sharing good humorous stories and jokes from many sources.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Sproat; his mother, Elizabeth Solliday; and his three precious dogs, Gretchen, Nicky, and Scarlet.
Mike is survived by his devoted wife, Valerie; his daughters, Kim Thurman of Shady Cove, OR (Mark) and Cindy Grabowski of Desert Hills, AZ (Leo); his cherished grandsons, Cordell Greene of Kirkland, WA and Kyle Ogden of Phoenix, AZ (Faezeh); his cousin, Ann Taylor of Sarasota, FL; Brother-in-law, Jim Olsen of McClintock, TX (Kathy); sister-in-law Joan Rockwell of Sturgeon Bay, WI (Steve); as well as their beloved dog, Sadie and umbrella cockatoo, Luna.
A celebration of life is being planned for the Spring of 2025. In memory of Michael, please consider a donation to Hospice of the Valley Arizona. Please join the family in sharing memories, pictures or videos of Michael on his tribute page at www.caminodelsol.com.