Rhea Alveda Sprecher

OAK CREEK, WI – Rhea Sprecher was born to this world on August 24, 1943 and to her Eternal heavenly home on March 18, 2026. She is survived by her sister, Mercedes Sprecher; her brother, Leroy Sprecher and wife Susan; her nephew, John and his wife Dayna and their daughter, Neve; as well as cousins and faithful friends and students from her years of teaching in Lutheran Schools in Grand Rapids, MI and Hales Corners, WI and beyond.

In the second half of her career Rhea was a popular lecturer at conferences, sharing her passion for art and culture. She conducted art workshops for children in schools all over the United States, utilizing an art curriculum that she developed and published called THE ART KIT. She also taught courses for teachers’ license renewals offered through the University of North Dakota. She loved sharing her passion for art with her students of every age and they loved and respected her creative mind and her ability to make art “fun.”

Another of the great delights of Rhea’s life was as leader of tours to art museums and sightseeing excursions locally and to France, Italy and the UK, visiting the scenes of famous art works and sampling the champagnes of the local vineyards.

Rhea was a faithful Christian and honored to be an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. She served as a lector for worship services, gave lectures on the artists featured in exhibits at the Art Institute and was a coordinator for the Grace Care group providing meals for families in times of distress.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a time of remembrance and celebration of Rhea whose legacy of faith and life lives on through all the lives she touched. A memorial worship service will be held on May 2nd at Grace 7300 Division St., River Forest, IL, 60305 Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m. (Will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/WzK44ZS-OKc. ) A light luncheon will be served immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Rhea’s name to Grace Lutheran School or Grace Cantata Series. gracechurch@graceriverforest.org.

In Ogden, Iowa, a visitation for Rhea will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden, Iowa, with her memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Maas Cemetery in rural Ogden, Iowa. Rhea’s memorial service will be livestreamed at Zion Lutheran Ogden Iowa Facebook Page. Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden, Iowa, has been entrusted with local arrangements. For online obituaries and condolences, please visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com